RSSJun|21|2008
Tourist Stereotypes: The Ugly American
Posted by Noemi as Around The World, Tips
We have to admit, not everyone in the whole world loves Americans. It’s either because they have reason not to or that they have stereotypes in mind. I tend to believe that a lot of it is due to stereotypes. Naturally, when we visit a foreign country, we want to have as much fun as we can, without the stereotype of the “ugly American” getting in the way. Here are some tips to help you do just that.
Learn the basics of the language
Contrary to popular belief, not everyone knows how to speak English. Even in major cities in other countries, there are a lot of locals …
Jun|19|2008
Weirdest Causes Of Plane Delays
Posted by Noemi as Transport, Trivia
With all that talk about problems to expect when it comes to air travel, it’s about time that we talked about something on the lighter side, don’t you think? James Wysong recently wrote about 12 bizarre reasons for flight delays and I got a real kick out of it. Here are some of the funniest ones.
Lawnchair Larry
In 1982, a man attached helium filled balloons to a lawn chair and accidentally floated over LAX airspace at 16,000 feet. A Pan Am pilot preparing to land was the first to call about the spectacle. All flights and traffic ground to a halt while authorities dealt with the …
Jun|14|2008
Fearless Forecast: What To Expect From Airlines This Summer (Part 2)
Posted by Noemi as Air Travel, Tips, Transport
We took a look at two of the “fearless forecasts” that MSNBC has for this summer regarding airlines. Here is the continuation of that post.
Delays
Oops – so what’s new? I do not fly as frequently as other people but most every time I fly, I encounter delays. The worst I had was with a budget airline in Asia – 4 hours of waiting at a crappy budget airport! So anyway, MSNBC predicts MORE delays. I suggest that you make sure that you have ample time in between connecting flights if you are going to have to do it.
The weak dollar
Well it doesn’t really take a rocket …
Jun|11|2008
Fearless Forecast: What To Expect From Airlines This Summer
Posted by Noemi as Air Travel, Tips, Transport
I bet that you are already counting the days till you get break loose from your office and head off to some remote island for your summer break! I don’t want to burst your bubble but I thought I’d share this article I read on MSNBC about how airlines are going to change this summer. It’s not really negative thinking. Let’s put it this way – it’s better to know and be prepared rather than live in blissful ignorance UNTIL the stark facts scream at you in the face. So here goes.
That’s not my carrier. With airline alliances becoming more common, you might show up to your …
Jun|08|2008
Have You Got Packing Smarts? (Part 2)
Posted by Noemi as Tips
In the last post, we took a look at one of the most important things when it comes to packing – the bag. Now let’s take a look at two other important aspect – what to pack and what to leave behind. Ready?
What to pack
Of course, the first consideration would be where you are going. Are you going to the beach? Then you should need no more than 2 swim suits, several shorts, and shirts. If you are planning on going somewhere fancy at least once, then one set of smart casual clothing would do.
On the other hand, if you are going to a city, you might …
Jun|05|2008
Have You Got Packing Smarts?
Posted by Noemi as Tips
The word’s out – American Airlines is now charging travelers $15 for the first piece of luggage that they check in. I can only imagine how the rest of the airline industry will follow their example. As early as now, ask yourself: “Have you got packing smarts?”
In this day and age, if you do not take extra effort to save money, you will probably find yourself spending more than you want to or what you can actually afford. When it comes to traveling, why not take a quick look at how you pack and see if you can avoid those dreaded luggage fees?
The first thing that you have to …
Jun|04|2008
Airline Luggage No Longer A Free Thing
Posted by Noemi as Air Travel, Announcements, Transport
You’ve probably heard all about it by now. American Airlines is the first major American carrier that is charging their clients for the first piece of checked luggage. It does not come as a surprise for some people. They have actually seen this coming. Why haven’t I?
It is understandable that airline carriers would charge for the second, third, even fourth, piece of luggage. But a charge for the first one? This is utterly ridiculous! Every traveler feels – and knows – that it is his right to have one piece of luggage free when he flies. It has always been this way and I believe that …
May|31|2008
Update on the Singapore F1 Night Race
Posted by Noemi as Around The World, Asia, Cities, Destinations, Festivals, Historical, Travelogger
The date of the race is fast approaching and even if it is still several months away, it seems that anyone planning on going to Singapore that weekend should be prepared to pay a hefty price. I did not buy tickets – for the plane, hotel, and race – last month when I first posted an entry on the night race because I was not sure if my finances could handle it. Now that September is looming nearer, I decided to check out the prices yet again to see if something could be done.
I shouldn’t have been surprised, really. As with any other event, the closer …
May|31|2008
Take A Closer Look At Travel Costs (Part 2)
Posted by Noemi as Hotels, Tips
In the previous post, we took a look at how you can save some money and avoid spending more than you should with regard to airfare. This time, let us take a look at the other major cost associated with traveling – accommodations. Before we go on, let me ask you this – what kind of accommodation do you usually book? Are you the type of person who likes comfortable and luxurious hotels? Or are you the type who can “rough” it out at hostels and lower budget accommodations?
I suggest that you decide the answer in your mind and IF you do think that you could hack it out …
May|27|2008
Take A Closer Look At Travel Costs
Posted by Noemi as Air Travel, Tips, Transport
Summer time is almost here and I bet that you are planning to go on a vacation sometime soon, that is, if you have not made your plans yet. Have you taken a closer look at how much your vacation will cost you? You probably know in the back of your mind that there could be hidden costs to everything but you might not have taken the time to plan on how to deal with them as of yet. If so, I suggest doing so. With prices going up all over the place, it is but prudent to look for ways on how to slash a bit of your travel …
