Ron Stern | Global Gumshoe
One: when making online airfare reservations, insidetrip.com is a very useful tool. Not only will it tell you the cost from A to B, but it will also provide an overall trip quality rating taking into consideration factors such as legroom, number of stops, aircraft age and even the odds of them losing your bag on that particular flight.
Two: some hotels near airports will let you park your car at their property and use the shuttle bus to take you to the terminal. Other hotels have packages that include a leisurely night’s stay, which includes their shuttle transportation. The overall benefits are less stress, less hassle and more time before flights. A website called parksleepfly.com makes it easy to arrange all this online.
Three: call your bank before using their credit cards out of the country. Many times they will not approve foreign charges as a way to deter fraud. I made this mistake once, and besides being embarrassing I had to make a few long-distance charges on my cell to get the transactions approved.
Four: while we are on the subject of money, when traveling, a pre-paid credit card can be used to obtain cash from ATMs. These are safer because they are not tied to your bank account if lost or stolen. Many places carry these now, including banks and retail stores.
Five: to save money on pricey checked baggage fees, look into the innovative apparel at scottevest.com. These jackets – what I wear – have all sorts of hidden pockets that will handle everything from small laptops and iPads to snacks and more. When I go through security, I put the jacket on the conveyer belt to be X-rayed and pick it up on the other side, thus avoiding paying for extra baggage. Also, if you do have more than two items for carry on, many times airlines will ask if anyone wants to “gate check” their bag. They put a tag on it and you leave it at the end of the ramp and pick it up when you arrive. This will allow you to board without being charged any additional fees.
Six: when I travel I carry a small kit that contains everything I might need for my comfort. Included items are alcohol wipes, earplugs, first-aid supplies, snacks, lip balm, inflatable neck cushions and reading material. I also carry high-quality essential oils, which have many medicinal uses.
Seven: when traveling abroad, I always register with the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Program. You can register online and they have a record of where you will be in case anything should happen.
A little planning and preparation can go a long way in ensuring your comfort, safety and security. Be prepared.
