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In this issue …
• Oh no, they let him out of the office!
• Humiliated by customs agents — am I entitled to a refund for my vacation?
• The highs and lows of travel
• Why cut-rate carriers are No. 1
• “We’ve had a lot of cracks about the whole inspection thing”
• 5 myths about vacationing in the buff
• How to reach yours truly
• Support this site
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FIRST | Random thoughts about the week in travel
Oh no, they let him out of the office! It’s true, my friends. They let the Armchair Traveler out of the office this week to visit Colorado and New Mexico. (Does this mean I can’t call myself the Armchair Traveler anymore?) Details are in this week’s blog and videocast. And that’s not all. I have a new Troubleshooter case, a compelling MSNBC.com column about low-fare carriers, and fascinating blog entries about everything from customs to surprise cleaning bills.
Burning question … biggest mistakes you’ve made when booking online? When you buy an airline ticket, hotel room or rental car online, things don’t always turn out the way you expected. This week, I’m interested in your stories of online bookings gone terribly wrong. What happened? And how did you fix it? Send me a note and please don’t forget to include your full name, city and occupation.
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BLAZIN’ HOT BLOG POST | What’s burning up my bandwidth this week?
Humiliated by customs agents — am I entitled to a refund for my vacation? — What does a country owe you when its customs agents give you the once-over at the border, even though you’re completely innocent of any criminal activity? Should it refund your vacation? That’s the question Regina Hutchings, a social worker from Media, Pa., wants Bermudan officials to answer. JOIN THE DISCUSSION — leave your comment!
Ask the Armchair Traveler | This week’s videocast
Ask the Armchair Traveler: the highs and lows of travel — They let the Armchair Traveler out of the office this week. Here’s his report on the “highs” and “lows” of travel, as he visits New Mexico and Colorado. Here’s a high-resolution version.
Elliott’s E-Mail is also underwritten by Cheapflights.com, which lets you search and compare flights to find the lowest-priced airfare for your next trip. Get the details at Cheapflights.com.
SIGHTINGS | Noted Elliott appearances online and offline
Remember my Alamo rate — When Alamo runs out of the kind of car Steve Chan has reserved in Ireland, it offers to set him up with a car from another company. Chan is led to believe that he’ll pay the same rate, but when his credit card bill arrives, he discovers he’s been billed more than twice the price he was first quoted. Now Alamo won’t refund the difference. Does Chan have a case? (From The Troubleshooter)
Why cut-rate carriers are No. 1 — Discount carriers used to be the darlings of air travelers, if not travel columnists. With low fares and high standards of customer service, what wasn’t to like?Then JetBlue had its embarrassing Valentine’s Day meltdown more than a year ago, in which hundreds of flights sat on a frozen JFK airport tarmac for up to 11 hours. And then Southwest had its humiliating safety scandal for operating almost 50 planes that missed their safety inspections. (From MSNBC.com)
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BLOGGED | New posts on Elliott’s Blog
Happy St. Patrick’s Day — here’s your cleaning bill! — Here’s a story with more disappointments than the college basketball invitational. Shortly after Mary Van Veen returned her Budget rental in Ireland, she discovered a surprise $174 charge on her credit card. She contacted the car rental agency, which told her “the car was extremely dirty and they had to pay a valet to clean it.” (From Elliott Blog)
“We’ve had a lot of cracks about the whole inspection thing” — If you really want to understand how the Southwest Airlines safety scandal is affecting passengers and employees, there’s only one thing to do. Get on a flight and strike up a conversation with a crewmember. Which is exactly what I did this morning. (From Elliott Blog) HOT POST!
High times in Albuquerque — There’s no feeling like soaring above the city of Albuquerque, N.M. in what they call “the box” — a pocket of air that allows a skilled pilot to steer his airship with pinpoint accuracy. It’s a feeling we’ll never forget, thanks to our new friends at Rainbow Ryders. (From Elliott Blog)
There’s still lots of snow in Durango! — It’s not your typical winter that you see this kind of snow in Durango, Colo. Then again, this isn’t your typical winter. They have an abundance of the white stuff here in town. Not bad if you’re a skier — or if you’re in the snow removal business. (From Elliott Blog)
All alone in Mesa Verde — It may be something of an exaggeration to say that at this time of year, you can have Mesa Verde National Park all to yourself. But it isn’t much of one. (From Elliott Blog)
Dangerous curves on the Durango & Silverton Railroad — The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a historic train that runs from Durango, Colo., to Cascade Station, about halfway to Silverton, Colo., at this time of year. It is perhaps the most scenic train ride in America. (From Elliott Blog)
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FLASHBACK | A retrospective from the Elliott archives
Getting out. More favorite destinations.
5 myths about vacationing in the buff — As a college student hiking through the French Alps many years ago, I accidentally uncovered one hotel’s shocking secret. I didn’t mean to reveal it. It was a blistering hot day in Grenoble, and my traveling companion, Nate, wandered toward a swimming pool behind the resort while I stocked up on water and provisions. (From Destinations)
A shelling safari on Sanibel — The storm sweeps across Sanibel Harbor at dawn, drawing a dark curtain over the island. Gray water churns angrily, spitting foamy waves on the beach. Gale-force wind gusts rage. What a perfect day to go shelling. Yes, shelling. (From The Travel Critic)
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