TipTrick.Net » travel tip

Travel Tips

admin — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 13:20:06 +0000

In the wake of the foiled London terrorism plot, air-travel regulations have become even more restrictive. The rules are in flux, so before leaving, check for updates from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (tsa.gov) and any country where you are making connecting flights. Meanwhile, some tips to make traveling a bit less daunting.

Fly Baggage Free

Passengers who want to avoid long waits at the luggage carousel can ship their suitcases ahead. Companies such as Virtual Bellhop, Sports Express and the Luggage Co. will pick up your bags from your home and have them waiting at your hotel. Expect to spend $50 to $150 for the convenience. Willing to wait? For a bit less, you can ship your bags via FedEx or UPS ground.

Leave the Driving to Them

Travel by bus has long been the least glamorous transit option. But with no advance check-in times, no baggage check and reasonable walk-up fares, bus travel could be just the ticket for short-hop trips. Hip new lines, budget carriers and luxury services offer riders looking to avoid airport hassles an alternative at several price points.

Chinatown Bus These buses, created to carry Asians from one ethnic enclave to another, offer no frills and irregular schedules. But the price is hard to beat: fares start at $15 from Boston to New York City and $20 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

Megabus This U.S. version of a popular British bus line models itself after low-fare airlines, with colorful vehicles and hip styling. Eight Midwestern cities are linked to its Chicago hub with ticket prices as low as $1. More typical fares are $5 to Milwaukee, Wis., and $20 to St. Louis, Mo.

Luxury Lines Travelers who prefer a deluxe ride may be more comfortable on buses like the LimoLiner, with its 28 roomy recliners, free wi-fi and meal service between New York City and Boston for $79.

What You CAN and CANNOT Carry On

Confused? Here’s the latest on what’s safe to take onboard and what’s better off checked in.

CORKSCREWВ В В В В В В В В В В В В В YES
LAPTOPВ В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В YES
FORMULA/BREAST MILKВ В В В YES
SHAMPOOВ В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В NO
GEL SHOE INSERTSВ В В В В В В NO
SAFETY RAZORВ В В В В В В В В В В YES
TOY WEAPONSВ В В В В В В В В В В В YES
IPODВ В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В YES
MOUTHWASHВ В В В В В В В В В В В В В NO
SOLID DEODORANTВ В В В В В В В YES
SUNSCREENВ В В В В В В В В В В В В В NO
CELL PHONEВ В В В В В В В В В В В В YES
PERFUMEВ В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В NO
SOLID LIPSTICKВ В В В В В В В В YES
LIP GLOSSВ В В В В В В В В В В В В В NO
KNITTING NEEDLESВ В В В В В В YES
PRESCRIPTION MEDICINEВ В YES
MASCARAВ В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В NO
TOOTHPASTEВ В В В В В В В В В В В В NO

By: McLaughlin, Lisa, Time, 9/4/2006

Jerry’s Tips

admin — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 11:39:18 +0000

CATCH DEEP-WATER SMALLMOUTHS
1 On hot days when boating traffic is heavy, smallmouth bass stop seeking food. They gather in groups of similar-size fish and suspend in deep water. Though not actively feeding, schooled-up smallies rarely turn down a live hellgrammite hooked under the collar and free-spooled to their depth with no weight attached. Once you hook a fish, note the location and continue free-lining hellgrammites to catch more.

KILL THE MOTOR FROM ANY SPOT ONBOARD
2 Attach two strong cords to the kill clip on your boat motor ignition switch and run them through screw eves mounted under the gunwales on both sides from the stern to the foremost bow seat. Should the operator fall overboard, any passenger in the craft will be able to turn off the motor without scrambling around dangerously, simply by pulling on the cord.

STAY DOWNWIND WITH FOUR TREE STANDS
3 You’ll have a slow day in a tree stand that isn’t down-wind from where you expect deer to show. To increase your success in the field, place four stands at different locations so that each favors a different wind direction. Let the air currents determine which one you use, and always approach it from downwind. For best results, hang the stands at least 20 feet high so that your scent will disperse in the treetops.

CARRY MORE FIREWOOD
4 When you’re gathering campfire wood, you can carry more per trip if you break the sticks into 3-foot pieces, then stack them on top of a length of rope laid out on the ground. Once you have a sufficient pile, pull the rope ends up around the middle and cinch it tight. Now swing the bundle onto your back and hold the rope with one hand over your shoulder while the other hand steadies the load.

READER TIP
FIND YOUR PATH IN THE DARK
Make your own reusable trail markers. Clip several wooden clothespins to a hanger and dip them in polyurethane. Once they are dry, wrap a ВЅ-inch strip of reflective tape (available at auto stores) around each wing. My Mini Maglite shines off the markers at 40 yards. вЂ” THOMAS K. MILLER, Valparaiso, Fla.

By: Robinson, Jerome B., Field & Stream, Sep2006

Travel Trick

admin — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 10:43:56 +0000

Renewing your passport is an expensive pain, in part because you have to find a place that can take the very specific type of unflattering photos the U.S. government requires. Now you can make them yourself with epassportphoto.com. Snap a headshot against a white wall with your digital camera, upload the photo, and the site will resize and crop it to passport specifications. Print six photos Oh a 4×6 sheet, or order a set from an online photo service.

Popular Science

Steal a Travel Agent’s Tricks

admin — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 10:26:09 +0000

Next to expense accounts and free coffee, in-house travel agents have to be the best invention of the modern corporation. The good ones know how to find the flights that have better chances for upgrades, or search for the fares that allow much more flexibility without much more dough. For those of us without an agent at our disposal, however, it’s a headache. Nailing down frequent-flier tickets or upgrades often requires multiple phone calls, numerous web searches, and too many compromises. But there’s a better way: Check out expertflyer.com, a website that essentially gives you a peek inside nearly every airline’s stockroom. That’s important because on a given flight, there are dozens of different fares and ways to qualify for an upgrade. Often if you book online you see only the lowest price or the full-fare unrestricted ticket. But some airlines have cheaper unpublicized fares that offer greater flexibility and allow easier upgrades. The site, which starts at $4.99 a month, is aimed at travel pros, but a new “consumer version” is on the way this fall.

By: Gimbel, Barney, Fortune

On the Trail toвЂ¦Hiking Safety!

admin — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 12:27:52 +0000

The right clothes will held keep you cool on a hot day. Light-colored cotton shirts are fine as long as it doesn’t rain and cool down. Otherwise, choose nylon shirts and shorts with polyester linings; they are cool, durable and quick to dry.

HYDRATE OR DIE!
Drink small amounts of water all day — don’t wait until you feel thirsty. Drink enough for your urine to remain light-colored or clear.

HOT WEATHER TIPS
1 MAKE SURE WATER IS AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE HIKE
2 EAT FOOD HIGH IN CARBOHYDRATES
3 USE SUNSCREEN
4 TRAVEL MORNINGS AND EVENINGS; AVOID MIDDAY HEAT
5 PACK RAIN GEAR, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOWвЂ¦

Source: Boys’ Life, Aug2006