RSSDec|14|2007
The 411 On 3-1-1
Posted by Camica as Air Travel, Around The World, Tips, Transport, Travelogger
Ever since 9-11, aviation security have alerted to the threat liquid explosives can present. All of a sudden, drinks, food and toiletries were being banned from the airports worldwide. Nowadays, security has eased up a little, but the rules to keep all liquids, aerosols and gels in check are still being enforced. If you have plans to fly in the near future, it pays to be in the know about 3-1-1.
3-1-1 is the aviation industry’s catchphrase to help you remember easier how to pack liquids. If you’re going to keep your liquids in your checked bag, there’s should be no problem, but if you’re planning to take the liquids through the checkpoint and onto the plane, then you’ll need to follow the rules for packing liquids. The rules are actually simple:
3 - only 3 ounce or smaller containers of liquid …
Dec|13|2007
Flying Tips: How To Fly Through Security, Part 2
Posted by Camica as Air Travel, Around The World, Tips, Transport
So you’re all ready for your trip. You’ve got your tickets, all your necessary travel documents and your proofs of identification (at least two). You’ve packed your bags, the ones for check-in and carry-on, and made sure they’re correctly and visibly tagged with your name and address. With everyone heading home for the holidays, you want to make sure get on your flight in time. Here’s some tips to help you breeze through the checkpoint:
Arrive on time – the general rule is to get to the airport at least 3 hours before your flight if it’s international, and 1 ½ hours if your flight’s domestic. Also be sure to give yourself enough time to check your baggage and get through security.
Have all your necessary documents ready – make sure you have your boarding pass and valid government IDs (at least two) ready when you get …
Dec|12|2007
Flying Tips: How To Fly Through Security, Part 1
Posted by Camica as Air Travel, Around The World, Tips, Transport
It’s the season to be merry, but with the onslaught of the holiday travelers, keeping your temper can be a little tricky. With the airports getting more crowded, the traffic getting worse and the check-in lines getting longer everyday, keeping your flight schedule may need a little more effort on your part. To avoid inconvenience, and ensure a hassle-free, express check-in, here are some tried and tested tips:
Before your trip:
Pack light – this may be challenging, especially for the ladies. But it’s basic common sense: the less baggage you have, the less time and effort you’ll need during check-in. Packing light will also ensure you won’t go over your baggage limit, otherwise, it’ll cost you time and money.
Pack smart – pack your carry-on bag as neatly as possible, and layer items. For example, a layer of clothes, then electronics, then toiletries, then heavier items. …
Dec|11|2007
Visiting Santa Claus Town
Posted by Camica as Around The World, Destinations, Events, Family, Festivals, Getaways, United States
If you’re crazy about Christmas, and count St. Nick as one of your heroes, then it’s time for you to visit Santa Claus, Indiana. This town, which was established in 1856, has the world’s only post office to bear the name of Santa Claus. Chances are, the letters you sent to Santa has been routed to their post office. Because of this, a group of volunteers known as “Santa’s Elves” ensures each child receives a reply from Santa Claus, a tradition that has been around since 1914. The Post Office also prints the only official Santa Claus postmark, a Santa Claus picture postmark that’s available only during the Christmas season.
Of course, the whole town has capitalized on the whole Christmas theme. There’s Christmas Lake Village, where the street names are all themed after the season as well. The area’s 3 lakes are called …
Dec|06|2007
First Class Lounges: Qatar Airways’ Premium Terminal
Posted by Camica as Air Travel, Around The World, Destinations, Luxurious, News, Reviews, Transport
In case you’re planning to fly with Qatar Airways, and assuming you can afford it, buy first-class tickets so you’ll get a chance to check out their Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport. It was rated as one of the best first-class lounges for 2007 by Skytrax, the iindependent airline industry’s monitoring agency. It opened last November 26, 3006, a week before the start of the 15th Asian Games that took place in Doha, Qatar.
The 10,000sqm Premium Terminal was built in just nine months, at a cost of US $90 million, as part of a US $200 million expansion at Doha International Airport. Designed to pamper and delight First and Business Class passengers, the terminal is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s located before the main departures building.
As one of the privileged First Class passengers, you’ll experience the Premium …
Dec|05|2007
Flying Tips: Discounted Tickets, Part 2
Posted by Camica as Air Travel, Around The World, Tips, Transport
As I started listing in my last post, here’s the rest of the air fare discounts you can ask about if you’re planning to travel.
infant with or w/o seats – this is another discount ticket that may be purchased online, but again, not all online sites can offer these. These discounts are offered for infants under two years of age. You’ll have to indicate the birthdate of the child, and bring a birth certificate as proof when you check in. There are two kinds of discounts for infants:
• lapchild – if you don’t want to get a separate seat for your infant, babies under 2 can be seated on your lap. The ratio is 1 parent per kid. For domestic flights, tickets for infants are free, but for international flights, you’ll need to pay 10% of adult fare, or taxes, whichever is higher.
• infant with seats …
Dec|04|2007
Flying Tips: Discounted Tickets, Part 1
Posted by Camica as Air Travel, Around The World, Tips, Transport
The world is getting smaller, and nowadays, a record number of travelers are choosing to fly to get their destination. It’s an easy choice; after all they say flying is still safer than driving a car on a highway. And with a lot of smaller airlines joining the skies, air travel is getting more and more affordable, with even the bigger and more established airlines lowering their prices to keep up with the competition.
I’ve already covered some of the ways you can fly for cheap on my previous post. However, with the coming holiday, the travel industry is approaching their peak season, and tickets won’t come cheap. But there are still some ways to get airfare discounts, which aren’t usually advertised by the industry. Here are some discounts you can look into:
senior citizen’s discount – if you’re 65+, you’re eligible to get …
Nov|30|2007
Traveling With Kids: What To Pack, Part 3
Posted by Camica as Destinations, Family, People, Tips, Transport
Here’s the rest of the things you want to be sure you have on your carry-on or diaper bag.
Prepare a first-aid kit, that should include medicines for fever, colds, flu, allergies, and any prescription medicines your child needs. Include bandages, gauze & motion sickness medicines just in case.
Always pack a lightweight blanket. Aside from the obvious, it can serve a variety of uses, such as a shade from the sun, a spot you can lay your baby down, or extra cushion for baby.
Bring along a foldable, small umbrella. The weather is always unpredictable, and it can be used both for rain and shine.
Hats and caps are also musts for any type of weather.
Don’t forget the sunscreen, both for the face and the body. Use one with both UVA and UVB protection, with an SPF of at least 15. You can also check for …
Nov|29|2007
Traveling With Kids: What To Pack, Part 2
Posted by Camica as Destinations, Family, People, Tips, Transport
Your kids may be half your size, but they usually end up taking twice the luggage space. Here’s some more tips on what you’ll need to pack for your carry-on, or diaper bags.
If you’re traveling on a plane and you have an infant with you, be sure to bring along a bottle or pacifier for your baby to suck. This will relieve your baby from ear pain caused by air pressure changes during takeoff and landing.
Be sure to bring only as much baby food as you’ll need for during the journey, with a little allowance for good measure. For the rest of the trip, you can stow the extra baby food in your checked-in baggage. Or better yet, check if there are groceries or stores where you can buy baby food at your destination, that way you’ll minimize the things you’ll need to bring.
As with …
Nov|28|2007
Traveling With Kids: What To Pack, Part 1
Posted by Camica as Destinations, Education, Family, People, Tips, Transport
Going on trips with my kids are always a huge production, especially if it lasts more than a weekend. My husband jokes that we should buy a motor home, since we end up bringing half the house with us. Most parents would understand, oftentimes, the baggage allowance for my kids is a ratio of 2:1; 2 bags per kid compared to the adults. Since we practically spend every weekend visiting grandparents, and insist on vacationing with the kids every time, we had to learn to trim our baggage to the essentials. For the harassed mom or dad, we’d like to share some tips and tricks we’ve learned, along with our must-bring items.
If you’re traveling with an infant or a toddler, a car seat is always a must. If you’re traveling on a plane, make sure the car seat you have is FAA-approved.
A baby …
