One of the downsides of taking a vacation is packing. Let’s face it; packing is a pain. Fortunately, there is a way to lighten the pressure of gathering travel essentials and placing them in various bags. The key: Keep it simple. Given the astronomical luggage fees imposed by commercial airlines these days it’s best to streamline your packing. Don’t take items that you can find at your travel destination. For example, most hotels feature hair dryers, towels, shampoo and bathrobes, so keep yours at home. If you are worried that your accommodations won’t have certain necessities, call and ask, so … Continue reading →

Especially when you are traveling abroad. Millions of Americans will be jetting off on summer vacations to foreign countries in the coming weeks. Europe is expected to be an especially hot travel destination as it hosts the Summer Olympic Games this July. Whether you are traveling to London, Hong Kong, Rome or South America this summer (or any time of year) you don’t want your vacation to be spoiled by a thief. Unsavory characters prey on vulnerable tourists, but there are ways you can avoid becoming a target. Some safety tips to consider include: Pickpocket Prevention: Don’t underestimate a petty … Continue reading →

You remembered to pack your toothbrush, wallet, passport and underwear, but before you head out on your dream vacation don’t forget to take along another travel essential: common sense. Many people get so wrapped up in the excitement of traveling abroad that they neglect to exercise basic safety precautions. In order to make your trip of a lifetime something you won’t look back upon with regret, remember these simple tips: Avoid shortcuts: If you are traveling in unfamiliar territory, don’t stray far from the beaten path. This is especially true if you are driving in a foreign country. Resist the … Continue reading →

Whether you are traveling to London for the 2012 Summer Olympics or you’re jetting off on an Italian holiday while the kids are out of school, it’s wise to do some research first. After all, it doesn’t pay to perpetuate the “dumb American” stereotype when you are traveling overseas. While smartphones are helpful and very convenient, they don’t provide you with the same organized information featured in guidebooks. Many people shy away from purchasing the highly informative books because they feel they can obtain the same information via the Internet. On the contrary, guidebooks are priceless, especially if you are … Continue reading →

Mastering the lived-in look while you are on vacation can spare you from having your house ransacked. That’s the word from law enforcement officials, though they aren’t referring to your rental cottage or your outward appearance. Rather, police are encouraging folks preparing to hit the road this Labor Day weekend to follow steps in order to make it appear as though someone is occupying their home while they are away. Some ways to avoid home invasions while you are on vacation include: *Lock all doors. *Secure all windows. *Stop the mail and newspaper. *Rig exterior lights so they turn off … Continue reading →

Hot enough for you? Record-breaking temperatures have been recorded from coast-to-coast this summer and the end result has been horrifying for some families. In the last three months alone five children in Florida have died in cars that have been left sitting in the blazing hot sun. I won’t speculate on what kind of parent leaves his child alone in a vehicle with the air-conditioner turned off when the temperature is above 90 degrees, but I don’t think it takes a genius to figure out that deadly temperatures can be reached quickly in vehicles that are left out in the … Continue reading →

Despite making headlines weeks ago, my frequent-flying friend is still steaming about Spirit Airlines’ new few for carry-on bags. If you haven’t already heard, the discount airline is planning to charge as much as $45 each way for passengers to store their carry-on bags in overhead bins. After the announcement was made, a litany of airline fee-related jokes sprouted up in my email inbox, including one that suggested that Spirit Airlines’ passengers should start wearing multiple layers of clothing on flights in an effort to avoid the carry-on fee. If you plan to fly the fee-friendly skies this summer be … Continue reading →

Two words: Luggage fees. My brother just took off for a 10-day ski vacation with his wife and son, but yesterday I got a call from him saying it may be the last one they take—-EVER! Apparently, the amount of money they spent on airline luggage fees was almost as much as a roundtrip ticket. Admittedly, my brother is not the world’s savviest packer, but considering that they planned to rent most of their ski equipment, it was quite a shock that they spent in excess of $150 on luggage fees. I won’t bore you with the breakdown of their … Continue reading →