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Copyright Elliott Publishing. All rights reserved. For more information, call (305) 453-4781 or send e-mail to us.

ELLIOTT'S E-MAIL
The Last Honest Travel Newsletter
http://www.elliott.org

December 17, 2001

> Inside

* Early Present?
* Don't Click Here
* A Note About Web Addresses
* Time is Money
* Vanguard Web Sale
* Balking at Bargains?
* High-Speed Prices Head South
* Is the Middle East Dangerous?
* Serious About Security
* Road Kill
* Truth About Fuel Surcharges

> This Week in Travel

** Early Present?
The holidays may come a little early for the airline industry if America West's request for up to $426 million in government subsidies is approved by the Air Transportation Stabilization Board. Its application, amended just last week, would offer taxpayers an option to buy up to 10 percent of the airline. But if America West crashes despite Uncle Sam's bailout, then the math on that deal is pretty straightforward. I mean, you don't need a calculator to determine 10 percent of nothing.

> By the Way

** Don't Click Here
The first week of our pledge drive raised more than $100 - not bad, but hardly enough to bribe a mid-level airline executive to leak a story to us. You need more reasons to NOT support this newsletter? Fine. Click here for 10 of them http://www.elliott.org/about/bottom10.htm (Does reverse psychology work on 7,000 contrarians? I guess we'll find out.) As always, your gift of $5, $20 or $50 will help underwrite quality consumer advocacy journalism. Click on http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/pay/TPAI2PPMO7FZN

** A Note About Web Addresses
We try extra hard to include Web addresses that work. But it's not an exact science. Web sites re-publish their pages all the time and e-mail programs break URLs into several lines. If you encounter an address that's no good, don't despair. First, try to cut and paste the whole address into your browser. If that doesn't work, then visit our Web site, where you'll find a clickable link. If that's no good, please e-mail editor@elliott.org with the problem. We'll do our best to fix it.

** Time is Money
Did you know that hotels and car rental companies sometimes prorate daily rates if you don't use the room or rental for the full day? For example, I arrived very late one evening and had to get up early the next morning for a flight - and discovered my room rate was only half what it was supposed to be. Have you ever come across this kind of "fractional" pricing (and I'm not talking about a pay-by-hour motel room). Did you save money? If so, send us an e-mail and please don't forget to include your full name, city, and what you do for a living. Your answer may appear in a future column.

> Elliott's Cheap Travel Tip

** Vanguard Web Sale
Vanguard Airlines is offering 20 percent off all tickets purchased at its Web site between now and Dec. 23. (Austin to Kansas City, for example, is priced at $48.80 each way; Colorado Springs to Pittsburgh is $95.20). The discount is good for travel through February 28, 2002. For details, click on http://www.flyvanguard.com. Got a moneysaving tip? Send it to tip@elliott.org

> Our Sponsor

** Radoff's Travel Letter
If you've got a travel-related dispute that you haven't been able to resolve, why not try a lawyer's letter - a customized message from an attorney showing that you mean business? Franklin Radoff, a lawyer with more than three decades of experience in litigation and transactional matters, has offered his lawyer's letter service to readers of Elliott's E-Mail at a special discount. Pay $39.95 (the normal fee is $49.95) for a lawyer's letter through Jan. 1. (You must mention discount code ELL10K for the discount.) For details, click on http://www.legaladvicehotline.com/lawyersletter.htm or call (800) 595-2948.

> Elliott's Commentary

** Balking at Bargains?
If you've been feeling a little down lately, don't blame the economy or the coming winter. Blame the travel deals. It sounds almost absurd, and until a few months ago, it would have been unthinkable. But travelers who ordinarily wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of a great price on an airline ticket, cruise vacation, or rental car are now having second thoughts about the bargains. In The Travel Tightwad at http://www.elliott.org/tightwad/2001/balk.htm

** High-Speed Prices Head South
So maybe you don't see neon signs advertising "Free high-speed Internet!" on every other roadside motel yet. Or even in the newspaper ad for your favorite upscale hotel. Be patient; prices are heading south. How do I know? By watching my bandwidth bills, paying attention to the news - and reading between the lines. Check out The Travel Technologist at http://www.elliott.org/technology/2001/highprice.htm

** Is the Middle East Dangerous?
A reader is traveling to Egypt early next year, but he's worried that he might become a victim of terror. Is there a reason to be afraid? Travel Troubleshooter Chris Elliott takes a look at the Middle East and finds the answer. Find out if you should avoid the region - or it it's OK to travel there. Read the details in The Travel Troubleshooter at http://www.elliott.org/ask/2001/crmiddle.htm

>> There's much more irreverent news and commentary about travel. Click on http://www.elliott.org now for details. <<

> Ticked.com Talk

** Serious About Security
It's been about three months since 9/11 and the airport security hasn't seemed to really focus on the important stuff yet, says Cheap Charlie. He believes the age of hijackings is over. That's right, we really don't need to check everyone for the tiniest of weapons when they board the plane. Hijackings and takeovers of airplanes to use them as weapons will not happen again. Read more of Charlie Leocha's column at http://www.ticked.com/cheapcharlie/2001/chserious.htm

** Road Kill
Traffic accidents are the major cause of death and serious injury of westerners traveling abroad. Particularly, the mortality rates on the roads of developing nations - those countries that are rapidly growing as business and tourist destinations - are alarmingly high, reports Terry Riley. Read more in Terry Riley's column at http://www.ticked.com/errtravel/2001/errkill.htm

** Truth About Fuel Surcharges
Recent TV reports and newspaper articles have taken the airlines to task for not "giving back" the fuel surcharge they introduced last year, now that fuel prices have dropped, reports Ed Perkins. In his view, those brickbats are misdirected: From the beginning, the airlines included that fuel surcharge in their advertised fares. Instead, the real bad guys in the surcharge game are those hotels, tour operators, cruise lines, and online agencies that add surcharges but exclude them from the advertised prices. Find out the details at http://www.smarterliving.com/columns/ed/Fuel20011213.1.html

>> For links to other engaging travel opinions, visit http://www.ticked.com today. And don't forget to bookmark the site! <<

> Other Sponsors

** Net-roamer
If you are a serious road e-warrior and need internet access, Net-roamer offers the iPass Network of more than 14,000 local call access numbers in 150 countries. Your first half-hour is FREE. Your email address will not change and you keep your regular Internet Service Provider. User-friendly software for Laptops and most PDA's including Macs. With Net-roamer you surf, send and receive email exactly as you would when at home or office. Click on http://www.net-roamer.com

** PS Inform by PositiveSpace
A travel agent needs to do more than book a flight to gain a client's loyalty these days - he or she needs to know enough to be an expert travel advisor. PS Inform can help. Short, daily email messages alert you to breaking travel stories, advisories and tips that make you a hero to your clients. And it's FREE! Subscribe today at http://www.positivespace.com/v2/redirect?loc_id=26

** FrugalFun.com
Home of Shel Horowitz's free Monthly Frugal Fun Tips (4-1/2 years of archives covering bargain travel, entertainment, dining, and much more). By the author of "The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty with a Peasant's Pocketbook," the book that will save you $500 to $2000 every year on fun every year. Also on the site: Global Travel Review: destinations, elucidations (how-to articles), meditations (adventure narratives), and alimentations (food) from around the world) - and lots of info for entrepreneurs and marketers. Click on http://www.frugalfun.com

> Charter Underwriters

* AirJet Airline News - News updated hourly at http://www.airlinebiz.com

* Applied Psychology - Security tips online at http://www.appliedpsychology.com

* Bonjour Paris - This site's French connection at http://www.bonjourparis.com

> Your Opinion Matters

Read something you disagree with? Got a story idea or a gripe? Your opinion can make a difference. E-mail editor@elliott.org or call (305) 453-4781 with any comments, feedback or suggestions about anything in this newsletter. Your participation won't just make it a better service, but it could also improve travel.

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> Credits and Subscription Information

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