Jim’s Travel Tips

Many web sites exist for airline travel planning and booking. I ran across a site that gives good information on flights available from one city to another. This site has a couple of unique features. The line that you type the city name on helps locate the exact airport three letter code. It also lists the non-stop flights first. You also have the ability to exclude certain airlines from the search. It’s just one of many travel sites out there, but I find it to be unique enough to be worthy of sharing. TIP: Go to www.dohop.com

Destination planning is a big part of any successful trip. I have a site that can connect you with “Official Tourist Bureaus.” On a recent trip to Florida I contacted the tourist bureau to find out information beyond the obvious that I knew. It turned out to be a great resource and I got 2 for 1 coupons for about a dozen places. TIP: Check out this web site to connect with tourist information worldwide www.towd.com.

Every trip involves packing to one degree or another. As every seasoned traveler knows dirty clothes expand to take up more room than the clean ones. Where are you going to put the souvenirs and gifts? TIP: Always pack a collapsible tote bag for your expansion needs. The most desirable is a nylon reinforced type tote bag with a zipper closure that folds very small for your initial packing yet can be used as checked luggage for the way home. Use this for all your dirty clothes on the trip home. Now your original luggage has room for your new purchases.

I have previously provided information about researching seating configurations on airlines and specific aircraft. Business travelers over the ocean know the value of a flat seat. Here is a web site that gives you the scoop on who has the flattest seats. TIP: Go to www.flatseats.com.

When planning a road trip it is most important to have a detailed map with driving directions on hand. All the major search engine sites have map routing resources, including Google and Yahoo. Even though they are getting more advanced all the time, I am sure we have all found errors when following them. I have even had Never Lost® in a Hertz car confused. I would like to provide a link to a great mapping service through AAA of Michigan. You do not have to be a member to utilize this service. It is one of the most detailed map instruction sites I have come across. TIP: Print a detailed route map for your next road trip at AAA of Michigan and click on the “Go to Internet Trip Tik”.

Frequent fliers know which airplane seats are better than others on the flights they frequent. Travelers also have their favorites; some like bulkhead, some like windows, and some like aisles. Each airline numbers the seats differently, so your favorite row will not have the same number airline to airline. How to keep track or know what seat is what? TIP: Go to www.seatguru.com and you will be able to research everything you need to know about, not only seat configurations, but how each airline differs.

Several comments and questions have been posted about the search for airport names and three letter designations or identifications. (See other airport designations post.) This can be confusing. Airports change names but not their three letter designations. Airport names aren’t necessarily a reflection of the city or region that they serve. My home airport is a great example of this. Gerald R Ford International Airport was formerly known as Kent County International airport and serves the Grand Rapids, Michigan area with the three letter code, GRR. TIP: Go to this site to help sort all these nuances out. www.airportlist.com.

Traveling within Europe by rail can be relaxing, efficient, cost effective, and fun. The web site provided here is a great way to check out schedules to see if your plans will allow the time and to check out pricing. Many of the large gateway cities in Europe (direct destinations from the US) have railway stations integrated into the airport. TIP: Check out this site for planning – www.raileurope.com/us/rail/fares_schedules/index.htm

Today it is getting more competitive to fly business class to Europe. I was fortunate enough to work for a company that always allowed business class fares over the ocean to Europe or Asia. The business class fares have become rather pricey, especially to Europe. There are several new airlines that claim to provide business class service to Europe for the fares less than the standard business class rate of major carriers. TIP: Check out these airlines for cost effective business travel to Europe – www.maxjet.com/homeAction.do and www.eosairlines.com/flyeos/overview/home.jsf

When looking at foreign travel, it’s usually good to take some extra steps of planning and security. The State Department has made it easier than ever to register your overseas itinerary with them, thanks to the internet. It may seem unnecessary, but it doesn’t take long and is free to do. The ten minutes it takes you to fill out the report is well worth it should you ever need help in a foreign country. Here is what the State Department’s website has to say about it:

“Millions of Americans travel abroad every year and encounter no difficulties. However, U.S. embassies and consulates assist nearly 200,000 Americans each year who are victims of crime, accident, or illness, or whose family and friends need to contact them in an emergency. When an emergency happens, or if natural disaster, terrorism, or civil unrest strikes during your foreign travel, the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate can be your source of assistance and information. By registering your trip, you help the embassy or consulate locate you when you might need them the most. Registration is voluntary and costs nothing, but it should be a big part of your travel planning and security.”

TIP: Go to https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ to register your trip.