Travelogger

Stay Safe While Traveling Travelling In Winter


winter_travel_437_large_imageIt’s not quite winter yet, but in many places in the United States, people are witnessing the weather change right before their very eyes. The air is much chillier and winter is starting to make its presence felt. If you are going to hit the road for a trip any time soon, you ought to make sure that you are prepared for winter weather. You never know just which way the weather might turn after all!

In fact, a lot of agencies in various states have been starting their awareness programs for winter travel – especially in those states where snow has started to fall. So what are some winter travel tips that can help keep you safe on the road?

First, preparedness is of utmost importance. You ought to check your cars now, and make sure that …



Book Your Holiday Travel Tickets NOW


thanksgivingThe holidays are just around the corner and I am pretty sure that a lot of you haven’t bought your tickets yet – if you’re traveling, that is. If you have travel plans for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas, then you really shouldn’t wait any longer to purchase your tickets. Why?

Here’s another bulletin from travel experts – after this weekend, you will be hard pressed to find fares that are reasonable and your chances of getting seats on the flight that you want will be very very low. This, obviously, is about Thanksgiving travel.

How about Christmas travel? You have about until November 10 or 15 to book your tickets for that holiday. After that, the same thing applies.

You may be thinking that you might be able to get your hands on some cheap tickets at the last minute. …



Airlines To Add Surcharge During Peak Season


delta-airlines-boeing-777I think it’s a load of c**p, but is there anything that we can do? From what I have been reading, it seems that airlines are going to be adding a fee to ticket prices for flights on the busiest days of the year. This means that those who are planning on going on a trip at Christmas and similar holidays will have to cough up more money.

Fox News has the story:

Travelers looking to fly on the busiest days of the year will see new sky-high prices on airfare, after multiple airlines decided to add a new $10 surcharge for popular travel dates this winter.

American Airlines first created the surcharge for domestic flights for the Sunday following Thanksgiving and the weekend of Jan. 2-3-, the dates during which many Americans will be returning home from Christmas and New …



Places Every American Should Visit


sears-towerWe all have a list of destinations that we would like to go to “before we die.” This kind of list is quite popular, isn’t it? I do agree with Laura McNeil of Bing Travel, when she said that most people tend to identify locations outside of their native land. I suppose it is because far away lands are more attractive than the “ordinary-ness” of local destinations. There is no doubt, however, that there are destinations within your own country which are just as interesting and meaningful as foreign destinations.

Let’s take a look at the United States, McNeil identified 8 locations that every American should visit. Can you guess what they are?

1. Sears Tower (Willis Tower) – yeah, it has a new name, and it seems no one is used to it yet, but the fact …



U.S. Senate Passes Travel Bill


usaTraveling to the United States has always been a somewhat difficult thing, especially for those who come from developing countries. I suppose that the restrictions that the US government has set in place is but understandable in light of how a lot of people try to enter and stay in the country illegally. Still, it can be quite a pain for those who are actually wanting to travel for the sole purpose of enjoying themselves and staying temporarily.

With the recent move of the U.S. Senate, people interested in traveling to the country just might find things a little bit easier. Dubbed the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, the bill is co-sponsored by Democrats Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka. It establishes a nonprofit corporation whose aim is to promote travel to the United States. Whether it is …



US Travel Hotspots Have “Poorly Performing” Hospitals


us-mapWhen you plan your trips, do you take hospitals into consideration? Probably not. Most people do not really plan on getting sick or injured while on vacation, but it is comforting to know that there is a hospital nearby with competent staff and adequate facilities to treat you just in case something does happen.

According to a study done by USA Today, however, some of the most popular travel destinations in the United States have “poorly performing” hospitals. And how do they define “poorly performing?” How about having some of the worst death rates in the United States? To quote the report:

“…from the Central Valley in California to the East Coast, from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to the Florida beaches. Hospitals with high death rates for heart attack, heart …



Cuba: Next Hot Travel Destination?


Cuba_FincalaVigliaHemingway460When I hear talk of Cuba, I feel a strange emotion. I do not understand it because I have never been there, and I have no ties to the country whatsoever. But I do feel a strange sense of nostalgia. Maybe it’s because of the old movies and the books that I have been exposed to, but in any case, the recent news that President Obama is easing up the restrictions with regard to Cuba made me feel those weird feelings again.

Of course, this news means something else as well – travel to Cuba is in the horizon! Actually, I have been hearing about a lot of developments with regard to the travel sector in the US preparing for the opening of the doors, so to speak. Leisurely travel to Cuba may not be a reality …



Take The Family To A Dude Ranch This Summer


photoOwnerslg2You may not have considered this option for the family summer vacation but maybe you should. We all know how the economy has been affecting most every person out there, and naturally, vacations are one of the first to be crossed out of the list. If you do have some money to spend on your vacation this year, you might want to take the family to the nearest dude ranch.

Why? Simply because they are also feeling the effects of the economic times. According to a story recently published by the Associate Press, many dude ranches all over the West are experiencing a lack of clients. The main reason, they say, is that the fees for dude ranches can be quite high – up to almost $2000 for a week’s stay.

With the numbers of visitors reaching a …



Prediction: July 4th Travel Low


325672323_c4ek6-mWhat are your plans for July 4 weekend? Year in and year out, this weekend is celebrated by all Americans with abandon. While some people opt to stay at home, many opt to travel and take advantage of the mid-year holiday.

According to auto club AAA, however, this year’s July 4th will not be focused on traveling. Their prediction is that, in spite of the fact that gas prices have gone down considerably and continue to do so, fewer people will be hitting the roads during the holiday period. The rationale behind this prediction is the fact that economic situation is still uncertain and a lot of people have become victims of it. Some may have recently lost employment while others may be in danger of finding themselves in the same boat.

However, AAA seems to be focusing …



Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Starts TODAY


us-passportIn case you have not heard, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative takes effect today. If you are not an American or Canadian national, you would not have to worry about it as you already have other requirements that you need to meet. However, for Americans and Canadians seeking to enter or re-enter the United States, you now need to present valid travel documents. These include a U.S. Passport Book, a U.S. Passport Card, or any other documents approved by Homeland Security. Do take note that the requirements apply to people coming in from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Here is more information from the government’s web site:

AIR TRAVEL
• All U.S. citizens traveling by air are required to present a passport book to enter or re-enter the United States.

LAND AND SEA TRAVEL
On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government …