Best International Airport Travel Tips
These days, there are many rules regarding the things that can or cannot be carried in the airplane, especially during international travel. If you are aware of the rules, you can have a better experience at the airport, and save some time in the security lines.
A Few Useful International Airport Travel Tips
Before going to the airport, do not bring or pack the prohibited items. If you are carrying cash, laptops or jewelry, place them in the carry-on baggage only. Tape a business card, or a postcard with your information on it, to the bottom of your laptop. One of the most important international airport travel tips is to make your reservations far in advance through a reliable agency. Take down your confirmation number and details of the cab driver. If you plan to use the local transport, make sure that you are aware of the pick-up and drop points.
One of the most important international airport travel tips is to keep your governement issued photo ID and boarding pass in a convenient place until you pass through the security checkpoint. There are many different regulations, so you may need to show these documents several times.
A useful international airport travel tip is to place your mobile phone, keys, PDA, large belt buckles, money clips, jewelry and loose change in your carry-on baggage before entering the screening checkpoint.
An inportant international airport travel tip is to find out the airport rules in your destination country. If you look online you can find this information for many countries. Before you begin your journey, a useful international airport travel tip is to take care of any special needs such as wheelchair, people traveling with pets or kids traveling alone. Find out how airport is going to meet these needs. Before leaving for airport, you can use the online check-in tool to avoid the long-queues at the airport.
Another international airport travel tip is to call up the airlines, and find out if your flight is on time. There are some uncontrollable facotrs which may affect your flight time such as weather, terror threats, plane problems, etc. It is a good idea to confirm the flight timing before leaving for the airport, and if you have left, be prepared to spend some extra time there. It is a good idea to prepare an emergency airport survival kit that may include eye shade, bottle water, ear plugs, books, magazines, disinfectant wipes, personal music device, snacks, pen, post-its, a small pillow, toilet and tissue paper, some common medicines, camera, and a power bar.
Make you traveling easier with Fabulous Travel Tips.
A Las Vegas Diary (Part 3)
Today was particularly busy. Booked our Grand Canyon Trip with reception for 11am tomorrow morning. Then we went to the MGM Grand. “Grand” is an understatement.
I think this has to be the biggest place I have ever seen. I believe it has over 5,000 rooms! We walked and walked and walked! Stopped off at a great restaurant called “Rainforest Café”. The USP here is that it is full of animatronic animals such as elephants, gorillas, snakes and every so often there will be a thunderstorm where there will be lightning and all the animals wake up and start making a fuss! It was really funny! We got our picture taken stood next to the elephants. Had a 3 egg omelette with mushrooms, ham and peppers. It was YUMMY. It came with breakfast potato. Me and Paul did not know what that was – turned out it was miniature roast potato squares.
Then it was 11am, time for the lions to come out to play! We got a really good spot right by the front and were so lucky that it was the two younger male lions, who were very lively! They were massive! We went under a tunnel, I could not believe the size of their feet!
Crossed the bridge walkway and ended up in the Tropicana. There was supposed to be a free show here, but it is not on any more. We didn’t really want to see the shows they had on (titanic), so we did some gambling instead. Cocktail waitress here got me a pina colada (YUM) and I had my first big win on the slots!! $47. I was only playing the quarter slots – so that was a really good return I thought – I got 4 of a kind – think it might have been 4 Queens. I was delirious with excitement when the “win” total kept going up and up and up – I thought “keep going”……….. YAY ME, the BIG WINNER!!!!
Went across the road to the Venetian. This hotel has painted roofs that look like sky with fluffy white clouds, which adds to the confusion as to whether it is day or night (especially when you are still jet lagged). We saw living statues, and a display of jugglers. Again there was amazing fountains (they seem to really go for water displays in Vegas). The Venetian has a re-make of St Marks square – which was most strange. My friend Ruth would be in the real St Mark’s square at the moment, and here I am in one as well! Haha!
There are two gondola rides in the Venetian (inside and outside), we joined the queue for the inside one but were told we need to book our ride. But it was busy, there was loads in the shop wanting to book, so we decided to come back another time. While we were there, we decided to go to Madame Toussads, and that was fabulous! Everyone was there, Brad and Angelina, Sly and Arnold – even Hugh Heffner! There was a really good part called “scream”, which was quite gross. They had a Princess Diana, and of course a shop – where you could buy a variety of tat that didn’t seem to make sense – such as Halo characters and bags for your 360?!?
Nipped into Bally’s to buy our tickets for Jubilee! Luckily we had a half price voucher. 70 dollars a seat is quite expensive for Vegas! Paul spotted an internet station so he checked up on work, whilst I went to a jeweller and spent my VP winnings on a lovely charm for my bracelet. It is a green Faberge egg with encrusted diamonds no less!
Strolled on over to Bill’s Gamblin’ Saloon and took in the Big Elvis Show. I thought he was great, in a corny, tacky kind of way. Apparently, he is not as “big” as he was, in that he has lost 500lb on his diet! His backing singer was better (in my opinion). It was good fun though, he got some women up and they had to dance and the best one, as voted by the audience, won a prize – never found out what the prize was –it was most likely a CD of his greatest hits!
Back to the Bellagio, were we nipped into the Baccarat Bar. I had a Bellagio Cocktail. Mega Posh!! Paul had a Becks !!!! It was dead relaxing here, bowls of peanuts, blown glass – people showing off with champagne haha!
Back downstairs to the casino tonight. Found a new drink of Bailey’s, Coffee and Cream. This will turn out to be my regular tipple of the trip. I love “cocktails”, they just walk around asking who wants drinks, and all you have to do is tip them a couple of dollars. It seems once they know you are there, they do come back quite a lot. I got quite drunk pretty much every night!
Relatively early night tonight 1.30am (ish) BIG DAY TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!
Is there anything for you to worry about on your next plane flight?
Everyone has pondered about whether or not people should fly. But why would we have been given the intelligence to create these massive flying machines.
Aeroplanes have been the fear of many travellers; some people won’t even fly at all, but is this an irrational fear? If you really want to think about it, the odds of being in a plane crash are ridiculously low. Lets look at it this way; you have a 0.0002% chance of being in a plane crash!! And as for driving, you have a one in four chance of having a car accident in your life time. On planes, the amount of safety equipment is immeasurable, there so muchdesigned to look after us.
So for those people scared of being in Planes, are they also scared of being in a car? This does not make much sense, when you look at the odds the plane seems the safer option. Flying to Caribbean holidays is always looked forward to, as long as the air con above your seat works. Just becuase you dont physically control the plane, remember the people at the front of the plane have some training, they know what they are doing. This is nothing for you to really worry about, otherwise they wouldn’t let people fly. And if you haven’t been on a plane before, then go now, the sun is shining and the weather looks great for this summer.
If you want some ideas of where to go on your first holiday abroad, then why not take a plane on holidays to Tobago, the cricket nation. Or there is always St Lucia holidays, now also a popular destination for weddings, what better way to spend your first holiday abroad.
How toFly Business Class at no Extra Cost
For many travellers, spending $5000 or more for a business class ticket in order to better enjoy the flight is not affordable. But, what not many people realize is that many air carriers will sometimes upgrade passengers from economy class for free – if they meet certain guidelines.
In this article, I will pass on some of the things that the gate attendants look for and require so that you can take advantage of the opportunities to get placed in first class at no cost to you. These five top tips come direct from the check in staff of some of the best-known airlines, and are considered by many regular travellers to be the holy grail of getting something for nothing.
Tip Number 1:
Look the part.
Make sure that you are dressed smartly when you travel. There is very little or no chance of getting a free upgrade if you are wearing shorts and a scruffy t-shirt, so at the very least, check in wearing a shirt and pants. There is no need to overdo it and wear a suit – unless you really want to. The key is to look good, but not like you’re trying too hard.
Tip Number 2:
Turn up early.
The check-in staff know exactly how many passengers are scheduled to fly before check time, so if there are seats to spare in business class, they will know right away.
Tip Number 3:
Be Polite.
Suppose you were the one checking people in for the flight. Would you reward a person who gives a hard time, or someone who is friendly and polite. There may be 250 people in the line behind you, make yourself stand out in a good way. Flirt, smile, use their name, be nice, and you may well win the upgrade contest.
Tip Number 4:
Be a Frequent Flier.
If you belong to an airline’s frequent flier program, you have a much better chance to be at the front of the line for an upgrade as the airline will want to repay you for your loyalty. Even if you do not fly regularly, go to the airline’s website and join their program online. It doesn’t take very long and is well worth the effort.
Tip Number 5:
Ask.
As they say nothing ventured, nothing gained, so make sure you ask – but do it at the appropriate time. If the check in staff look stressed, and they haven’t responded to your nice guy approach, don’t bother to ask them, wait until you get to the gate. If the gate attendants have responded well, when they ask you if you have any specific seat request, be cheeky and say “Business Class” to them. It might just work!
A Las Vegas Diary (Part 2)
Got to the Hotel, which has to be seen to be believed!
Saw the million dollar blown glass ceiling – wow – and just like about 10 million others I took a few photos!
Luckily the “Check in” was not busy, so we got seen pretty much straight away. Found the room, 5060, I was blown away!!! I think I might have shed a couple of tears!! The view from the room was like a picture, we were at the front of the hotel so had a good view of the strip, and even better, we could see the fountains!!!!!!!!!!!!! Result!!!!!!! . It was not yet 3pm so they weren’t on yet, but I knew to get Channel 22 on when they started so I could hear the corresponding music.
The Room itself was luxury personified. It has a great big Armoire with a TV in the middle, mini-bar with everything you could have wanted – and the bathroom was amazing – it was bigger than my kitchen and had a lovely big shower cubicle and a great big bath that you could swim in if you wanted! I was so excited! I was also glad that our room spent most of its time in the shade, so was always nice and cool. All the lights and curtains worked by switches near the bed – I would keep the curtains open until I was ready to go to sleep.
I cannot explain how great it was going to sleep whilst looking at the neon lights of THE FLAMINGO! But, back to the present. It is still day, our bodies are telling us it is 10pm, but because we have gone back 8 hours, it is only mid-afternoon!
Luckily, I wrote an itinerary. The first thing was to look at Bellagio Gardens. Dad told us these were massive, all the websites rave about them – so I had them down for the whole afternoon – they were beautiful – with lots of lovely flowers, moving displays such as trains, and a bear and a daddy bear, but we had seen it all in ½ hour!! Kept thinking “I am in the Bellagio Gardens! – Fancy that!” There is a lot of work here for a lot of people keeping this lot nice I reckon!
Caesar’s Palace is just next door, so we thought we would pop over. After about a 15 minute walk we finally entered into the main lobby. Lots of people milling around, looking up at the fresco ceilings etc. There was an amazing indoor fountain. What I remember most was a little Chinese boy who must have been about 3 or 4, ending up in this fountain and being plucked out like a flailing fish by his dad! Don’t know if he had been pushed in by his brother – there was lots of shouting from his mum and dad, yelling and screaming from him – and he was then dragged away looking like he was heading for a hiding. Classic!
This place has an hourly show based around the “Fall of Atlantis” and I really wanted to see it, but it wasn’t on – there was a sign saying “due to technical difficulties (or some such thing) there would be no show” – OH NO!!! Still, we have a week, it is bound to be fixed before we go – isn’t it?!?!?
Saw the aquarium, with lots of big fish – got some good photographs, hopefully they have worked.
Lots of amazing shops in Caesars Palace. There was also great big escalators that went round in curves! We went up and down them a few times! Haha!
We went to a little New York deli type place for something to eat. Paul got a tuna sandwich and I have never seen so much tuna between two slices of bread. It must have been 2 bowls full!! My sandwich was amazing too! We had our first experience of free fill-up drinks, but didn’t bother. Full up after the mega butties! A man came in to ask the price of something and re-coiled in horror – yet we thought everything was dirt cheap! That’s the advantage of a weak dollar I suppose?
Stayed in Bellagio casino tonight for our gambling. Got free cocktails for the first time… I made Paul get a Mojito but he didn’t like it, so was soon back on the old “southern comfort and lemonade” – still, more for me! “COCKTAILS” . Went to bed at 10pm (which to our internal clocks was about 8am!!)
Slept like babies!
Upgrade to Business Class for Free
For many travellers, spending $5000 or more for a business class ticket in order to fly in greater comfort is not affordable. But, what not many people realize is that most airlines will sometimes upgrade passengers from economy class for free – if they meet certain guidelines.
In this article, I will pass on some of the things that the gate attendants look for and require so that you can take advantage of the loopholes and get placed in first class at no cost to you. These five top tips come direct from the ticket agents of some of the best-known airlines, and are considered by many regular travellers to be the best chance you have of getting something for nothing.
Tip Number 1:
Look the part.
Make sure that you are dressed smartly when you travel. There is very little or no chance of getting a free upgrade if you are wearing shorts and a scruffy t-shirt, so at the very least, check in wearing a shirt and pants. There is no need to go overboard and wear a suit – unless you really want to. The key is to look smart, but not overdoing it.
Tip Number 2:
Check in early.
The check-in staff already know how many passengers are scheduled to fly before check time, so if there are extra seats in business class, they will know right away.
Tip Number 3:
Be Polite.
Suppose you were the one checking people in for the flight. Would you reward a person who gives causes you grief, or someone who is friendly and polite. There may be 250 people in the line behind you, make yourself stand out in a good way. Flirt, smile, use their name, be nice, and you may well get a pleasant surprise.
Tip Number 4:
Be a Frequent Flier.
If you join an airline’s frequent flier program, you are far more likely to be rewarded with an upgrade because the airline will want to reward you for your loyalty. Even if you do not fly regularly, go to the airline’s website and join their program online. It will only take a minute or two and is will really increase your upgrade chances.
Tip Number 5:
Ask.
As they say that if you don’t ask for something, you won’t get it, so make sure you ask – but do it at the appropriate time. If the check in staff look stressed, and no amount of charm has elicited a smile, don’t ask them for an upgrade, wait until you get to the gate. If the gate attendants have responded well, when they ask you if you have any specific seat request, be cheeky and say “Business Class” to them. It might just work!
Top 5 Reasons an Online Travel Agency can Save You Money
There are more than five reasons an online travel agency can save you money but the top five is a great start. Global statistics are pointing to the trend that online shopping for travel deals is way ahead of online shopping for books, electronics and clothing. For example, in Canada, about 45% of Canadians in 2007 looked for an online travel agency to book their travel, that’s a 9% increase from 2005 reports. Go to Sports Holidays for more information.
Here are the top five reasons why an online travel agency can save you money:
1. No overhead – many online travel agencies don’t have a physical location where they have to purchase furniture, supplies, and hire staff. In fact, many online travel agents operate from the comfort of their homes. All they need is a high speed Internet connection and access to global reservations systems. So the money they save on rent, utilities, personnel and other logistics constitute savings they can pass on to their customers. By booking online, you also save on trips to and from a travel agency in your area. You not only save money, you save precious time and gas.
2. Comparison shopping – by searching for travel deals online, you have the luxury of comparing prices provided by various online travel agencies. The idea is to read the fine print. You can compare them on the basis of:
Do Hold Up The Security Check Line
No matter where you plan to travel, there are security checks in nearly all airports around the world now. Many people do not fly very often, and so frequently are not ready for the security check process. If you want to get through security like the frequent flyers do, there are a few tricks that will make it easier for you and your fellow passengers. Think beforehand, so you’re not just getting started when you get to the front of the line.
Empty your pockets of loose change. Wallets and cell phones should go into one of those little trays that are provided. Remember heavy watches, bracelets, and belt buckles can set of the alarm. Take those off and place them in your carry-on bag before you get to the front of the line or place them in the trays.
Consolidate books and snacks so you won’t have as many things to gather back together after you’ve made it through the line.
In the United States, you have remove your shoes. Slip-on shoes will come off and go on faster. Shoes with zippers and laces will slow you down…but have your shoes untied or unzipped before you get to the front of the line. (Take care when you put them back on that you don’t trip on your laces before you’re put back together!)
Have your one quart/one liter plastic bag with your liquids, creams and gels out of your carry-on, and put it in a bin. Remember each liquid should be 3 ounces/100 ml or less, right? There shouldn’t be any loose liquids in your carry-on bag. In most countries, if you have “medically necessary” liquids or baby food, , those can exceed your plastic bag allowance, but you must notify a screening officer.
Have a system when you put things into bins on the screening belt. If you put things in an organized way, you’ll be able to put yourself back together faster afterward. Here’s a good way to do this.
Put you shoes, coat and your carry-on “personal item” (usually your smaller bag) in the first bin. They will come through the x-ray first, so you can put them back on while you’re waiting for your other items to be screened.
If you have a computer, put your laptop case in the bin before your computer, then when your computer comes through, you’ll have the laptop bag ready to slip the computer right into it.
If it’s going to take you a long time to put your shoes back on, collect all of your belongings and move to the side so the line doesn’t get jammed up. There are usually a few chairs against a wall nearby where you can sit down and put yourself back together.
You will irritate the other passengers AND the screening agents if you stand there and put your shoes on…. leaving your bin on the screening belt while others back up behind yours. Airports report that about half of all security checkpoint bottlenecks are caused by people putting themselves together after screening without moving to the side…. don’t be that inconsiderate person!
You’re going to read this, and the next time you travel, you’re going to go through that security checkpoint with a plan… and they’ll think you’re an expert traveler no matter whether you are a frequent flyer or not. Plan your trip through the security checks as completely as you plan your vacation.