Turn off your phone
If you’re a regular reader of The Travel Technologist, then you know this column is all about saving money when you use technology. But this week, in a departure from my regular theme, I’m going to tell you about how not using technology can save your life.
Spring broke
Q: I’ve been shopping online for a spring break trip, and I noticed that some companies are now charging a security fee and fuel surcharge.
For example, Springbreakdirect.com has imposed a $45 per person security fee and “small” fuel surcharge. StudentExpress.com and StudentCity.com are charging $35 per person.
Fuel prices are very low right now and I’ve [...]
What is the point?
Frequent flier miles are so easy to earn, they might as well give them away. Buying an airline ticket on the Internet? Here’s a thousand miles. Charging something on your credit card? Every dollar’s good for a mile. Switching long-distance phone carriers? There’s 10,000 miles, thanks very much.
More than a low fare
Tab Stone isn’t fooled by a low airfare. The Los Angeles pediatrician knows that a cheap ticket may come with an inconvenient schedule, so he often opts for a pricier, but more direct, itinerary. That’s particularly true for long-haul flights. Stone, an avid Scuba diver, sometimes treks thousands of miles to find the best diving spots. “When you’re flying to Micronesia, you want to be on a wide-body jet, not on an island-hopper that stops in Honolulu or Guam,” he advises.
Desert island devices
If you were cast away on an island from which there was no escape, what travel technology would you want to have with you? In previous years I’ve reviewed these gadgets I can’t live without.
When are fares coming down?
Q: We are traveling to Rome in May. We’ve found a fare from New York on Delta Air Lines for about $900 and on Alitalia for $840. Can you tell me when the airfares are coming down so that I can make plans to book the tickets? We have very specific dates that we need [...]
When your bill’s for the birds
A few years ago I adopted a baby African Grey parrot I named Scarlett for her brilliant red tailfeathers and feisty disposition. But I didn’t know that my baby girl was terminally ill when I bought her, and within three days of taking her home, she died of pneumonia. A necropsy determined that Scarlett’s condition was pre-existing, but the pet store refused to offer a refund or replacement. Fortunately, I had paid for the bird with a credit card, and even though my bank had a policy against disputing cases involving live animals, it decided to help when I told it what had happened. Within a few weeks I got my money back.
This story will self-destruct in 10 seconds
Worried that a virus might infect your laptop computer while you’re traveling? If you’ve read your e-mail lately, you probably are.
No status for hotel stay
Q: I’m a frequent traveler who is on the road more than 200 nights a year. I’ve been a Hilton Honors Diamond member for a few years, mainly staying at Hampton and Hilton Garden Inns.
Last fall I started staying at Fairfields and Courtyards to take advantage of Marriott’s Visa promotion, which offers double points and [...]
Five ways to cut meal costs
On a recent visit to Palm Beach, Fla., I had a rare opportunity to dine at L’Escalier, a five-diamond French restaurant at The Breakers. Its menu featured exotic dishes like duck confit in feuille de brique and deux souffles, the wine list was heavier than an encyclopedia, and the service impeccable. If I could eat this way every time I traveled, I’d never stay home. Then again, if I ate like this every time I traveled, I’d also declare personal bankruptcy in no time. And if you’re reading this column, chances are you would too. So how do you lower your meal expenses when you’re on the road without going on a hungerstrike?
Consolidate your cell phone
The easiest way to double your cellular phone bill is to travel with it. It’s a sad fact that I’ve described in a previous column about roaming charges, and despite loud complaints from subscribers, these fees show no signs of fading.
Flying for fun and profit
When it comes to air travel, the thrill is gone. Flying just isn’t fun anymore. But that’s more than a morale problem for the nation’s airlines - it’s a money problem. The dreadful, humorless state of the aviation industry is keeping them from a recovery.
The lowdown on rule 240
Q: I’ve seen several references to an obscure airline rule that’s supposed to outline your rights if you’re bumped from a flight. I’ve also heard that airlines don’t acknowledge the rule unless you mention it by name. Can you help?
– Chris Ettore
A: You’re talking about Rule 240, one of the most cited but least understood [...]
Know the code
Want to save serious money on your next trip? You can spend hours shopping for the lowest fare, find a coupon for your rental car and book an inexpensive room in a bargain hotel. Or you can look to your employer, special-interest club or favorite travel Web site for the secret code. The code - usually an alphanumeric sequence that’s keyed into a computer reservations system when you book a trip - often unlocks a door to the travel industry’s deepest discounts. Knowing it can also entitle you to a bigger rental car or a more spacious hotel suite. In a cooling economy in which travelers are trying to freeze costs, these codes are becoming a hot commodity.