Can You Really Fly for Free?

Silly me. Here I thought flying to from Hawaii to Wisconsin and back a couple of times a year would help me accrue enough miles for a free frequent flyer award ticket—-before I turned 80. What was I thinking? Most airlines now demand more miles before you qualify, and they expire quicker than ever — typically 18 months. So how does one pile up points if he or she doesn’t fly on a weekly basis? Here are some ideas that I uncovered in my quest to score a quasi-free ticket home: AIRLINE CREDIT CARDS Having an airline-affiliated credit card is … Continue reading →

How to Avoid Eating Dog When Visiting China

The hotels are ready, the cabs are clean, and the hospitality workers are trained… let the games begin! In less than 24 hours the 2008 Summer Olympic Games will officially get underway in Beijing, China. There have been a number of critics who have questioned whether the country could pull off the massive undertaking, but by all accounts it appears that the Chinese are ready to host the world. Millions of people (including athletes and spectators) have traveled thousands of miles to attend the Games and the Chinese government promises the venues will not disappoint. The country has gotten help … Continue reading →

Money Saving Travel Tips for Cash Strapped Flyers

By now you know that a single flight could easily put a major dent in your family’s budget. From rising airfares to insane luggage fees to the “brilliant” idea of charging passengers for everything from water to pillows and blankets, airlines are not ruling out any means to milk flyers for everything they are worth. If you are planning to fly in the near future now is the time to devise ways you can get from point A to point B without going broke. Here are some tips: WEIGH YOUR BAGS BEFORE HEADING TO THE AIRPORT The ol’ human scale … Continue reading →

Summer Travel: It’s Cheaper Than a Hotel

I love sharing hotel deals with readers almost as much as I enjoy taking advantage of them myself. However, no matter how good a lodging’s deep discount it doesn’t compare to the money you can save by staying at a friend or relative’s house while on the road. The rising cost of gas and airfare, and a lackluster economy has some families ditching their vacation plans all together. However, July is not over and August hasn’t even started so there is still a lot of time to get out there and explore this great country. If you are cash strapped … Continue reading →

Summer Travel Tips: Pack Your Patience and Some Common Sense

Summer might be halfway over, but millions of Americans have yet to embark on their annual family vacations. For those of you who are planning to take to the skies during the last weeks of summer be warned–packed planes, tighter security, horrific luggage restrictions and frustrated fellow flyers await you. Still, if your situation is like mine there is no other option besides flying to visit family and friends abroad. Fortunately, there are some ways to make the most of flying during the peak summer season. By planning ahead and using common sense you can avoid travel hassles whether you … Continue reading →

Try These Gas Saving Tips

Are high gas prices driving you crazy? In Spring Lake, Michigan the record number of illegal drive offs drove one gas station attendant to take matters into her own hands. The 21-year-old Michigan woman told police that she thought she’d be able to stop a fuel thief by jumping into his car, but her plan didn’t exactly work out the way she planned. The feisty gas station clerk says she had seen the same motorist leave the Spring Lake gas station twice last week without paying. The third time he attempted to gas and go she reportedly wrote down his … Continue reading →

New Airline Fees–Keeping it Straight

For the past several weeks I have been detailing the new baggage fees being assessed by select airlines. The information is readily available through the individual carriers and has made headlines from coast to coast, yet there are many summer travelers out there who find sifting through the new rules as nerve racking as a turbulent flight. If you find yourself asking: Is the $15 fee for the first checked bag or the second… Do you still have to pay the fee if you bought your ticket before the new rule went into place… What airlines are currently assessing the … Continue reading →

Summer Travel Tip: Never Leave Children Unattended in a Car

It’s a lesson a father living in my city learned the hard way. The man left his 2-year-old daughter sleeping in his locked alarmed car while he ran into Wal-Mart to pick up a spare battery. When he returned to his vehicle his daughter was awake and two police officers were waiting to arrest him for child endangerment. That dad was lucky. Seriously. While I’m sure he wasn’t pleased about being hauled off by police, he is lucky his daughter is still alive. Had the temperature outside been higher his toddler would have suffered much more than just emotional trauma … Continue reading →

Baby Born at 37,000 Feet

People living in Northern Canada could have never known what was going on in the skies above their homes last week while they were eating dinner. A female passenger on a Korean Air Lines flight was giving birth to a baby. According to reports, Jadan Brown was delivered last Wednesday by his father Larry, an emergency medical worker, and a Korean surgeon who happened to be onboard the flight from the Philippines to New York City. Isn’t it amazing that whenever a major medical emergency occurs on a flight (major enough to make headlines, anyway) that a doctor, nurse or … Continue reading →

Travel Tips: Instead of Europe Consider… Part 2

It’s no secret that traveling to Europe right now can cause a serious dent in your family’s budget. Which is why most Americans are staying close to home instead of crossing the pond to get their Euro fix. However, as I mentioned in my previous blog vacationing in the United States doesn’t mean you are limited to a trip filled with hot dogs, apple pie and baseball stadiums. If you know where to go you can experience European luxury without having to flash your passport or go bankrupt in the process. Take a look: TEXAS Why fly to Germany when … Continue reading →