Travelogger

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

Travel Tips for Christmas

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If you are traveling this holiday season, expect that airport, bus lines and in some countries even boats are fully booked. Everyone wants to spend this time of the year with their loved ones, while others simply want to get away and unwind.

In this light, try to book your tickets ahead of time or choose to travel on Christmas day itself if you want to avoid the rush. Some airlines even have discounted fares for this day.

Prepare your itinerary if you are visiting a new place and familiarize yourself with the place you are visiting. Getting lost during the holidays surely won’t be fun.

Make a checklist of things to bring. Try to bring everything you may need from things, to medications and other personal necessities including cellphone chargers and other electronics. Most stores are closed during the holidays, so it is better to have everything at bay when you need them.

Pack you things in clear plastic bags to organize them better. This way it is easier for security to check your things to avoid inconvenience.

Be at the airport or terminal at least 2 hours before your scheduled departure, so that you have enough time to go through the long queues and security checks.

Always bring a scarf and a jacket to keep you warm. Sometimes it rains even in the sunniest places. It is better to be prepared.

Lastly, bring a book or an MP3 player for idle moments or if your departure time is delayed due to unfortunate circumstances. It helps you pass the time and they give you a more patience.

Remember that this season is all about love and caring, but more than that politeness and empathy while travelling will definitely go a long way.

 

Image from dajobimi

Holiday Travel Tips That You CANNOT Do Without

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poipu_beach_park_001Holidays and travel go together – at least for most people. Time is flying by so fast, and before we know it, we’ll be hitting the roads to do our own things during the holidays. Here are some travel tips that you can check out – you will be happy that you did, trust me!

Look for refunds.
If you’re flying Southwest, there is good news for you. If you’ve already bought your tickets and then later on you find lower priced fare, you can ask for a refund! Also check out JetBlue and Priceline, as they have similar offers.

KNOW the rules for baggage.
You can get hit HARD by the fees for excess baggage, and with the trend today, you just never know what “excess” means. If I were you, I would make sure – absolutely sure – what the fees are for check in baggage. This way, you can pack accordingly and avoid unnecessary fees.

Go to the airport EARLY.
Yeah sure, this has always been a tip for travelers, and not everyone pays heed to it. Still, these are the holidays that we are talking about. Airports are going to be packed and you need to check in way earlier than usual. With a lot of passengers looking for chance seats, latecomers have higher chances of getting bumped from their flights. Don’t risk that.

Go somewhere warm.
Your circumstances may not allow this, but if you have a choice, avoid the snowy destinations. The weather has been so unpredictable and the chances of it ruining your trip are just way up there. If I were you, I’d go to the beach! But that’s just me. 😉

Free Wi-Fi At Airports Courtesy Of Google

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google-microsoft-yahooYou might have heard of it already – Google is offering a holiday treat to the countless people who will be traveling over the holidays. The news is that the company will be providing FREE Wi-Fi at 47 airports throughout the United States during the holidays. Naturally, those who like being connected wherever they may be are happy about the news.

The free Wi-Fi stunt is already in place – it started on Tuesday – and will be in effect until the 15th of January 2010. How is Google going to accomplish this? The answer lies within the partnerships that the company has established. Together with the airports and companies like Time Warner and Advanced Wireless Group, Google aims to provide relief and convenience to the millions of people who will be flying in the next couple of months. You may be asking why they are offering free Wi-Fi to only 47 airports when there are definitely MORE than that? Google’s offer is limited by the partnerships that they have, that’s why. For a complete list of airports that are included in the promo, visit Free Wi-Fi for the Holidays.

On another note, there are people who, while appreciative of the gesture, think that this should not be a temporary holiday treat. Tony Bradley of PC World, in particular, expresses his sentiments:

Kudos to all of them, but free Wi-Fi shouldn’t be a holiday treat or marketing promotion. I am not blaming Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo at all. They should be commended for capitalizing on a need, and providing a service while simultaneously fostering goodwill with customers and building brand recognition. None of the three will mind if you also happen to use their search services while taking advantage of their free Wi-Fi offers either–actually Microsoft insists that you use Bing if you want free WiFi.

I think he hit the nail on the head right there! Take note, by the way, that he mentioned two other providers – they have joined the bandwagon and are offering free Wi-Fi as well.

Anyhow, yeah, maybe this will be a start of something good. In the meantime, let’s enjoy the free Wi-Fi, shall we?

Photo courtesy of Top News