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ELLIOTT'S E-MAIL
http://www.elliott.org

February 4, 2002

> Inside

* Pursers or Peacekeepers?
* Orlando Discounts
* Won't Someone Send Us an E-Mail? ;-)
* Surprise Savings During Lull
* Site-Seeing in Patagonia
* Travel, Lies and Videotape
* Hazardous Doody
* Surviving Security Now
* A Plan to Protect Passengers
* Transparent Security

> This Week in Travel

** Pursers or Peacekeepers?
In his State of the Union address, President George Bush praised American Airlines flight attendants Hermis Moutardier and Christina Jones for stopping accused shoe-bomber Richard Reid and "likely [saving] nearly 200 lives." But not everyone thinks flight attendants are heroes. Read the whole story at http://www.elliott.org/vault/oped/2002/attendants.htm

> By the Way

** Orlando Discounts
We're working on a series of stories about the most popular destinations in America and how to save money when you visit them. This week, we're taking a look at the Magic City. How do you cut costs when you're in Orlando? Tell us your story. 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.

** Won't Someone Send Us an E-Mail? ;-)
Whether you're a travel industry insider or just a traveler, your feedback is important to this newsletter. So if there's a story you want us to cover, an issue you want us to write about, or if you just feel like venting, then go ahead. Send us e-mail - please! Our address is editor@elliott.org

> Elliott's Cheap Travel Tip
The Broadmoor Resort near Colorado Springs, Colo., is offering rooms for as low as $105 this Valentine's Day. I've visited this property myself and it is, if nothing else, very romantic. (Plus, the skiing's not bad either in that region.) Call (800) 634-7711 or visit http://www.broadmoor.com.

> Got a moneysaving tip? Send it to tip@elliott.org <

> Our Sponsor

** IndependentTraveler.com
IndependentTraveler.com includes a comprehensive travel resource center and travel planning guide featuring the best selection of travel bargains, practical travel tips, travel news, message boards and trip reports from other travelers. Sign up today for our free weekly newsletter for travel tips and bargains for you and your family. So log on to http://www.independenttraveler.com/?pid=16 and happy traveling!

> Elliott's Commentary

** Surprise Savings During Lull
Kathleen Kowalczuk thought she'd found a bargain Caribbean cruise to help her escape Alaska's arctic winter. But the real deal, it turns out, was the hotel she booked in Fort Lauderdale, FL. "It was a huge surprise," says the Anchorage, Alaska, real estate broker. She knew the daily rate at the Gold Coast Beach Hotel was $59, which is a steal even during the off-season. She didn't know that it meant she'd stay in the equivalent of a suite that came with an attractive water view. In The Travel Tightwad at http://www.elliott.org/tightwad/2002/lull.htm

** Site-Seeing in Patagonia
Before booking a wildlife safari in Patagonia, a reader wants to check out the destination - virtually. Although she's found a few sites that show itineraries, she's hoping to take a more exhaustive tour before making a selection. Can our troubleshooter help? Why, of course he can. Take a tour of Patagonia's (he won't even take a commission). Read the details in The Travel Troubleshooter at http://www.elliott.org/ask/2002/patagonia.htm

** Travel, Lies and Videotape
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what are a thousand pictures worth if they're strung together? Not much if you've bought the camera I recommended last week following a tortuous search for the right model. A camera is no good without video editing software and peripherals. And chances are neither your PC nor your camcorder shipped with the equipment you need (unless you buy an Apple Macintosh system, which comes with a first-rate video editing suite). Check out The Travel Technologist at http://www.elliott.org/technology/2002/camcorder3.htm

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

> Ticked.com Talk

(Note: Some of these URLs are long and may break up in your e-mail program. If they do, just cut and paste them into your browser, or go directly to http://www.ticked.com and follow the hard links.)

** Hazardous Doody
In 1999, Anil Charnalia got up to use the lavatory on a KLM flight to New Delhi. He never returned. Four hours after the 49 year-old accountant left for the lav, he was discovered dead when the cabin crew broke down the door to the toilet. Mr. Charnalia had suffered a heart attack. Enter Bert Raphael, a lawyer (naturally) representing Mr. Charnalia's family. Mr. Raphael is now claiming that the airline personnel may have been able to save Mr. Charnalia had they been more attentive to his extended absence. Read more in Terry Riley's column at http://www.ticked.com/errtravel/2002/errlav.htm

** Surviving Security Now
If you're looking to cancel a business trip, then the current security-screening process is a convenient and extremely persuasive excuse. On any given day, for any particular flight, the security regimen at U.S. airports is every awful adjective you can think of: annoying, inconsistent, infuriating, time-consuming, onerous, ineffective, intrusive, demeaning, demoralizing, offensive… well, you get the idea. But if you have to travel, there's only one way to deal with security now. Grin, bear it, survive and take every damned precaution and use every damned shortcut you can devise. Read more in Joe Brancatelli's column at http://www.zyworld.com/brancatelli/branc.htm

** A Plan to Protect Passengers
Frequent-flier Don Detrich came up with the idea while taking a flight from San Francisco to Orlando, just two weeks after the September 11th attacks. He began talking to the passenger next to him and they discussed how they would react to a hijacking. They made a pact to act together, much the same way that the passengers on United Flight 93 fought back before crashing in Pennsylvania. Detrich wondered: Shouldn't the FAA and the airlines teach the flying public to deal with the new reality in flying? Read Kathy McCabe's column in USA Today at http://www.usatoday.com/life/travel/column/informed-traveler.htm

** Transparent Security
Are we at war with terrorism, or aren't we? From the way Congress and the Transportation Department are acting, it seems that we are simply saddled with more of the usual when it comes to bureaucratic and political maneuvers. Shamefully, Senators and Congressmen left The Capitol earlier this month for vacation without even appointing a commander of the Transportation Security Administration! Who ever heard of heading into battle without a general in charge. Read more of Charlie Leocha's column at http://www.ticked.com/cheapcharlie/2002/chtransparent.htm

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

> Other Sponsors

** Breckenridge Ski Resort
Snow conditions are prime and there's no better time to explore our vibrant mountain town! Planning a visit? Pre-purchase lift tickets for savings of up to $12 per day or take three half-day ski or ride lessons for $99! Click on http://breckenridge.snow.com for details.

** Journeywoman
Tell your mother, daughter, sister, aunt and grandma. Featured in Time and People Magazine, Journeywoman.com (http://www.journeywoman.com) is the premier travel resource for women on the Internet. Filled with thousands of travel tips and articles from a female's point of view, this website created by Evelyn Hannon recently welcomed its millionth visitor. This award-winning site offers a terrific FREE travel tip newsletter as well. To register go to: http://www.journeywoman.com/form.html

** MilesLink Voices
If you rely on Randy Petersen's WebFlyer site for timely news and information about mileage programs, you'll want to sign up for MilesLink Voices, a new electronic newsletter published in conjunction with Ticked.com. It features the sharpest opinions about travel delivered twice a month to MilesLink subscribers. Click on http://webflyer.com/newsletters/newsletter.htm

** Alaska Travelgram
Scott McMurren's Alaska Travelgram e-mail newsletter. Punchy, timely information on travel in, out and around Alaska! For a free subscription, click on http://www.alaskatravelgram.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

* Journeywoman - The premier travel resource for women on the Internet at http://www.journeywoman.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.

> Be an Underwriter

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> Credits and Subscription Information

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