Disembarking
Passengers are always eager to disembark once the plane has landed, but you are reminded to remain seated and buckled until the aircraft is stationary. Furthermore, the further back you are down the aisle, the longer it will take to leave the plane, so you’re better off relaxing in your seat than waiting around in the congested aisles, battling with weighty overhead hand luggage.

Luggage collection
Generally, the later you check in the sooner your luggage will appear on the conveyers (last in, first out). Be patient and courteous with other passengers, luggage often takes up-to 20 minutes to arrive. If you are sure your luggage has not arrived do not panic. If the airline has misplaced it (occurring occasionally if you have ‘checked-through’ your luggage from a previous connecting flight), they are usually quite efficient at locating it, delivering it to your address and often gifting you some form of compensation. Being affirmative, but not aggressive, returns the best results.

Immigration
Airlines usually distribute entry cards before landing; ensure you have completed it in full beforehand, to avoid delays.If you have the correct visas or entitlement to enter the destination country then the process of passing immigration should be hassle free. However, be aware that immigration officers are typically bureaucratic in some developing and former-Soviet countries and will quiz you thoroughly, expecting you to provide an address where you will be staying. They act tough and are notoriously unfriendly but if you answer patiently and correctly they will let you through. They will also expect to see an onward or return ticket before allowing you entry. Countries that have problems with an influx of illegal workers, such the US and EU countries tend to ask probing questions to determine your real intentions, so be alert. Several people entering these countries have been issued ‘hot cross buns’ where your initial entry visa is denied due to suspicious circumstances, such as insufficient funds. This means they place a red cross through the visa in your passport (for all future immigration officers to see!) and deny you entry or allow you entry for only 48 hours.

Customs: red or green route?
If you have goods to declare then you shouldn’t chance it, and always opt for the red route. Goods to declare include: excessive amounts of alcohol and cigarettes, brand new electronic items, new high-value items which you may be bringing home and could be subject to import duty and controlled items (varies according to each country), or high-value items which need to be declared (the latter will need a certificate issued and recorded in your passport so that they can demand to see it on your departure, failure to leave the country without the said goods may result in a penalty).

All other passengers should follow the green route, where customs officers usually stop people at random and ask probing questions before requesting to search your luggage and person. Undeclared goods may be confiscated and countries that are particularly tough on banned drugs can be quite thorough in their search, even resorting to ‘rubber glove treatment’. It’s best to assume the persona of a ‘regular tourist’ if you don’t wish to attract attention. Although a well-trained officer will not be fooled, they do tend to pick out scruffy backpackers and single young adult men with limited luggage.Some countries also prohibit the importation of certain items, such as pornography or ‘copied’ software so it’s worth checking if in doubt. Singapore, for example, does not allow chewing gum.Casual users of mild banned substances (such as marijuana) are advised to thoroughly check all luggage (especially pockets) before packing, as some people have in ended up being arrested and convicted for unwittingly ‘trafficking’ even small amounts of any kind of banned drug.

Currency exchange
Most international airports that receive significant numbers will have at least one currency exchange bureau open to receive all flights. Singapore travel usually their commission is slightly higher to accommodate the inconvenience.

Avoid being a victim
Try to be as alert as you can; weary travellers make easy prey for pickpockets and thieves. Make sure any taxi you get into is legitimate to avoid any shady goings on, and be wary of touts and people recommending hotels, tours, bars, etc. Carry a second ‘dummy’ wallet with a small amount of cash in case you are mugged.

After a long journey it seems convenient to succumb to the offers of a tout or taxi driver, and they can become quite aggressive. Lookout instead for an official tourist desk and simply brush off unwanted solicitors by explaining that a ‘friend or relative’ is collecting you. If you do take a taxi, always insist on a meter. The fewer passengers there are behind you the more ‘negotiable’ the taxi driver or tout becomes.

There’s much to do before your next vacation. After you’ve picked a destination and purchased your ticket, make sure you’re up to date on all the latest travel advisories and regulations. Whether you’re planning a trip in the U.S. or heading to an international destination, the airline industry and the Federal Aviation Administration enforce tough rules for travelers. Before you fly, make sure you’re up to speed on the travel requirements in your next destination.

Tickets

Beginning in June 2008, paper airline tickets will be curbed and travelers will be required to use electronic tickets for travel. This means shorter lines at the airport ticket desks and one less thing to remember before you leave the house. But, with paper tickets going away travelers will need to be cognizant of necessary information needed to check bags and board the plane.

No matter how you bought your tickets – online, on the phone or at a travel agency – be sure to check the airline requirements when you book your flights.

* With e-tickets, you will need to provide a reservation number or credit card at check-in. Make sure you have one or both items with you when you arrive at the airport.
* Always have a photo ID with you. A copy of your ticket and a photo ID is required at the security gate.
* Remember to reconfirm your ticket before you fly. You can access your flight information on the airlines Web site by using your confirmation code from your e-ticket. Any flight changes will be listed here and you can also check in for your flight 24 hours before departure for domestic flights and 72 hours before for international flights.

Passports and IDs

It’s not as easy to cross the border as it once was. Today’s passport laws have changed and make travel to other countries more complicated. Passport requirements have changed. Beginning in 2005, the U.S. government introduced a new policy called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which changed passport requirements for U.S. travelers booking flights to Canada, Mexico, Panama, Bermuda, and many Caribbean countries. Today, a passport is required for all U.S. citizens traveling outside of the United States.

For domestic air travel, all adult passengers must present some form of government-issued photo identification. A valid driver’s license or passport will work. For international air travel, all passengers (including children) must have a valid passport.
Visas

When traveling internationally, it’s important to determine whether or not you will need a visa to enter your destination. To get you started, check out this quick overview of visa requirements for U.S. citizens.

Double check visa requirements by contacting the Embassy of the country you are visiting. Review a complete list of U.S. embassies worldwide.

If you do need a visa, start your application early, as it can take weeks to process depending on your destination and you may need to send them your passport.

Visit the U.S. Department of State Web site for comprehensive information regarding passports, visas, and other documents required for smooth, safe air travel no matter where you’re headed.
Money

When planning for international travel, consider spreading your funds across credit cards, travelers’ checks, and cash. Travelers’ checks may be the safest way to carry money, but getting cash overseas has become a lot easier. ATM machines will usually issue local currency to foreign cards. Here are our top money tips.
Keep your funds in several different places.

* With travelers’ checks, keep your receipts separate from your checks.
* Carry enough local currency to pay for a taxi from the airport, meals, and the first hotel night if you haven’t already paid.
* Find a secure way to carry your funds and travel documents.
* Money belts are terrific for holding the bulk of your cash.
* For more information, check out our tips on currency exchange and money.

Insurance

You might already have some insurance coverage and just don’t know about it. Check with your credit card company or auto club and see what’s covered during travel. Some travel insurance plans include overseas medical coverage; some just cover personal property and transportation expenses. Be sure to check with your current medical insurance provider to see what’s covered out of state and overseas.

For information on travel insurance, check out Travel insurance tips.
Make copies

Ever lose your passport while overseas? It’s not pretty. Avoid as much hassle as possible by making copies of all important documents before you go and store them in a safe place on your journey. Hint: do not keep the photo copies with your actual passport. Leave the copies in a safe in the hotel room, or in your locked luggage. To be extra safe, leave photocopies at home with somebody you can get in touch with in an emergency.
Immunizations

For some regions of the world, immunizations are necessary prior to travel. Proof of immunization is a requirement for entering some countries Anti-malarial medications may have to be started weeks in advance
Packing for your flight

You’ve gone through the checklist and made all of your arrangements. You’re more ready to fly than you ever thought possible, but you’re not done yet. Take a look at your luggage and make sure you’ve taken all security regulations seriously.
Checked bags

* Don’t lock your luggage – security will open them.
* Ask the airline how many bags you can check.
* Find out how much each bag can weigh.

Carry-on bags

* Ask the airline how many bags you can carry on.
* Carry everything you would need to survive if you lost your luggage. Consider: food, tickets, documents, change of clothes, medications, etc..
* Will you need a converter to use electric gadgets?

If you know you need to travel light, follow this time-honored advice: pack your bags, then take everything out, leave half of the clothes and books on your bedroom floor, and pack again.
Air travel security

There is no reason why new regulations should spoil your fun. Flying is the safest way to travel, but there are new requirements that you must adhere to. Be sure to check the latest Transportation Security Administration tips on air travel security and become informed before you fly. Review this carefully and consider some basics:

* Find out what you can take with you – and what is banned from airports and airplanes.
* Be prepared to slip off your shoes before boarding.
* Get a doctor’s note if you have metal in your body (such as pacemakers, pins from surgeries, etc.).

Moving on

Air travel has changed in the last few years, but there is no reason why anyone should be discouraged from flying. Make your lists, follow these steps, and have a great trip

Some air travelers have an almost magical ability to sleep out as soon the plane engine starts and then stay asleep until they ariives. If you’re not one them, so here are 10 tips for making it easier to catch some sleep on your next flight.

1. Book a window seat. Not only can you prop your head against the cabin wall or window, you won’t have seatmates waking you up every time they have to go to the bathroom.
2. Drink water. While you don’t want to drink so much that you’ll have to keep getting up to use the toilet, staying hydrated will make it easier for your body to rest. As water may not be readily available to you throughout a flight, bring your own bottle.
3. Dress comfortably. Leave your tight pants and clothes in your suitcase and opt for breathable clothing and comfortable shoes. Wear layers, as airplane cabins have an amazing ability to change from hot and stuffy to cold and breezy and back again over the course of a flight.
4. Avoid caffeine. It might be tempting to whittle away your time with a latte while waiting to board, but you’ll pay for it later. Also avoid the tea and coffee service onboard the plane.
5. Bring pillows and blankets. Nowadays with some airlines charging for pillows and blankets or removing them from the plane to save money, it’s best to bring your own. That way you can also be sure to have a product that works for you, whether it be a neck pillow, an inflatable cushion, or fleece blanket. If you forget yours at home, most airports have shops that sell them.
6. Bring an eye cover. Some airlines may give you eye covers for international flights, but you can’t count on it, so bring your own. You’ll look silly, but it’s amazing how blocking out light can make it easier to nod off.
7. Bring ear plugs. If you plan to use ear plugs, try out a few different brands before you fly. Everyone’s ear canals are shaped differently and not all brands may work for you.
8. Bring noise-canceling headphones. A good pair of earplugs is usually enough to help you fall asleep, but on some particularly noisy planes, its helpful to also wear headphones (with or without soft music playing) that cover your ears.
9. Fasten your seat belt over your blanket. The flight attendants will wake you up if they can’t see it.
10. Consider sleep aids, but be careful. Before you take any sleep medication, talk to your doctor about which might work for you. Melatonin is a mild, natural sleep aid many travelers find helpful, although it may not be enough for some. If you’re going to take anything stronger, make sure the flight is long enough (eight or more hours) so the product can work through your system.

Make sure you get the seat with a bassinet or cot:
Pre-book that bulkhead seat where they attach a cot for your baby. Apparently all airlines have different policies about that, and some aren’t too reliable about actually providing the seat you’ve booked, so hassle them.

Travel with tired kids:
Try to schedule flights that will take place during times your children usually sleep. Impossible with a long-haul flight, but if you can at least make the first leg relatively easy with a sleeping child, then you’re half way there.

Allow extra time for everything:
Get to the airport earlier and avoid tight connections. Everything takes longer with children.

Be prepared for take-off:
Remember that children’s ears are super-sensitive to the air pressure changes that we barely notice any more. Give them something to drink or to suck on during take-off but be prepared for screaming anyway.

Ration out the entertainment:
Have a new toy or colouring book ready to surprise the kids with when boredom begins. Let them watch as many in-flight movies as they can concentrate on – forget your normal TV limits. Likewise, if they’re old enough, let them play the onboard computer games for hours.

Ask for help:
Identify the kind flight attendants who think your kids are cute, and passengers around you who are also parents and have sympathy for your plight. You might need their help, and don’t be afraid to ask.

Ignore the complaints:
It’s not fair, but you might get complaints to your face, or at least sense some discomfort around you. Ignore them. Those people who think you shouldn’t take young children on flights are just unsympathetic and pretty thoughtless.

Limit the luggage, but take everything you need:
Packing for travels with kids is a bit paradoxical. Try to strike a balance between having everything you need to deal with any problems they might have, and to keep them entertained, but avoid having too much hand luggage to battle with, when you’ll probably also have a stroller or pram to handle as well.

Share the load:
As soon as your toddlers get big enough, have them carry some of their toys in their own backpack for as long as they can. It helps you and encourages good travelling habits.

To drug or not to drug?
There’s a lot of talk about giving child-safe sedatives to your kids to help them sleep better on a flight. It’s absolutely a talk-to-your-doctor area because some children have bad reactions to these drugs.

The family vacation is a time-honored tradition, but many parents find themselves even more tired and worn out after the vacation than before it started. Traveling with kids can be very demanding. But it doesn’t have to be so tough. When you plan your next family vacation, use these tips to help make vacationing with kids a roaring success.

1. Choose your destination carefully.

Of course, you want to choose a place everyone will enjoy, but also think about the implications of your destination. If you’re going to the beach and you live in New Hampshire that would be quite different from going to the beach from Missouri. You have different options on where you go and how you get there. Keep those needs in mind as you choose a destination.If you’re considering Disney World or another theme park, but your children are of widely differing ages, consult a guidebook to decide which park provides the best options for all your children.2. Use the best transportation for your kids.

Traveling on a plane with a child can be a little challenging, but if your destination is more than a few hours away by car, flying may be the best option. Think through the various ways you can reach your destination, including renting a minivan for a more pleasant drive, or buying a DVD player for the back seat of your current car.

3. Pack carefully.

Traveling with kids sometimes means improvising, but try to keep that to a minimum by making sure everyone has appropriate clothing, shoes, books, toys, and medication. This last is absolutely critical, as a sick child can ruin even the best vacation.

4. Keep them occupied.

This may sound obvious, but the best way to keep kids happy on a trip is just to give them something to do. Pack activities and toys to keep them busy. If your kids are old enough, let them pick their favorite things, but make sure you check to insure that there are enough activities and enough different things to do.

5. Keep them fed and hydrated.

Tired, cranky kids are often hungry and thirsty kids. Whether you’re traveling by plane, car or train, carry along plenty of snacks and make sure the kids have enough to drink. Sugary soft drinks and even juice can increase thirst rather than really quench it, so make sure your kids get plenty of water, as well.Traveling successfully with kids is really no different than traveling successfully without kids. You have to make sure everyone’s needs are met. Kids just have slightly different needs that may include that special blanket or a copy of their favorite comic book.

The main problem many parents have in taking a family vacation is not that their kids are misbehaving, but just that the trip and the kids are not compatible, either because the kids are bored, or because they’re tired, hungry, or thirsty. Taking care of all those contingencies makes for a fabulous trip.

So what is a parent to do? Traveling with kids doesn’t have to be a bad experience. Instead of deciding to leave the kids home for the next “family” vacation, relax! You can make traveling with the kids an enjoyable and stress-free experience by following these simple tips:

1. When possible, travel at night and let the kids sleep. But be cautious, because it’s easy to get tired. If you find yourself getting sleepy, roll down the windows, play music, or better yet, find a safe place to pull over and take a 20 minute nap.

2. Plan your trip during the day with stops about every 90 minutes. By planning ahead, and using travel planning software, online trip planning sites or travel associations, you can find — and stop at — kid-friendly places such as parks with playgrounds, historic monuments or view areas where everyone can get out and walk around for a few minutes. Giving the kids even a 15 minute break will give them a chance to “get the wiggles out” and work off some energy.

3. Bring along some sing-along music. Although your kids may groan at first when you start singing, they’ll soon join in, especially if the songs are either well-known, absurd or “gross.” Think of your own childhood favorites, or camp songs. Singing can really help to pass the time, and creates happy memories later on. To help cut costs, you can even record your own CDs? If the kids don’t know the words, create sing-along books for everyone by typing them in your Word processing program and printing them out.

4. Create a goodie-bag. Good ideas are travel toys and games, bubbles, inexpensive art books and pencils, even the latest in collectible cards or action figures. (To save money, look for seasonal sales or buy something every payday.) To cut down on arguments about sharing, you can set a time limit for playing with each game, before everyone has to switch. Individual presents can be wrapped or not, and given out at whatever schedule fits your needs and your kids’ boredom levels. You can even choose particular games for particular stops, such as bubbles, Frisbees or small balls, which will encourage running off energy.

5. Bring along individual “quiet time” activities. These could include an art box (keep the supplies inside an inexpensive plastic shoe box), postcards or writing paper, or even a journal given to each child at the beginning of the trip. Encourage them to write letters, or record their thoughts and feelings. You can also bring along hand-held games, or inexpensive CD players and earphones, so that everyone can listen to the music or books of their choice. Depending on the space you’ve got and the length of time you’ll be gone, each child could have their own box or backpack, to keep their things organized and accessible.

6. If your trip is going to include a lot of sightseeing, pack a backpack with sweaters, hats, swimsuits (if in season), extra socks and even towels, in case anyone gets wet — accidentally or on purpose. Keep the backpack in your trunk, so you can just grab it and go. Most kids, if given the chance when near water, will really enjoy getting wet, and it saves on the wear and tear of your vehicle if you plan ahead. Also be sure to pack extra water and travel snacks such as energy bars, nuts or travel mix. You can add to your child’s enjoyment if you also include things such as a magnifying glass, binoculars, a disposable camera and their own travel map.

7. Include a “kid’s activity” at least once every day. This may be something as simple as going for ice cream after visiting a museum, or going to a water or amusement park. There are often lots of great free or inexpensive activities in most places in the States. To find them, you can check ahead of time with local Chambers of Commerce, on city Websites, or with your travel agent. To help keep the expenses down, don’t forget to check for “two for one” coupons, or discount tickets that are often available at local fast food restaurants or in local papers. Also, many family style restaurants offer a “kids eat free” night, which could be a special treat.

8. Don’t forget about the travel games you probably played as a child. There is “Letter Bingo” where you look at road signs and billboard ads to find the letters of the alphabet, or “License Plate Alphabet” where you go through the alphabet in order. You can also create easy bingo sheets that you print out with clip art of common sites you’ll see on your trip. Your kids will be more inclined to play along if they know that your parents used to play the exact games with you. (Grandparents are SO much cooler than parents are…)

9. Let your kids help to navigate, narrate and create information about your trip. There are so many great resources online these days that can help you make your trip even better. Letting your kids get involved helps to make it more enjoyable for them. For example, let one child be the “trip navigator” each day. They have the responsibility of looking at the map, and making sure that the right exits are taken, or how much farther to each destination point. (If you really want to get creative, the navigator could wear a special hat or badge; the narrator could have a “press badge” or carry a reporter’s notebook, etc.) Older children can create written entries into a journal or even in a Blog, talking about the daily activities and sights. Another option is to bring along an inexpensive tape recorder, and let each child record their impressions of the different places you see or things you do. Younger children can draw pictures, or use a disposable camera.

10. Start collecting postcards. Postcards are inexpensive, and your kids will enjoy getting to send them to their friends or other family members. Postcards are also a great addition to your family photo album after the trip. You can cut them up, or even write about specific experiences on the backs of them, to help everyone remember what you did and where you went.

11. Create a scrap book at the end of each trip, using the postcards and pictures the kids took. Letting them help to decorate and put the journal together is a fun after-the-trip activity.

12. Above all, give yourself a break. There is no such thing as a “perfect” family vacation. Inevitably there will be things forgotten, things broken or other “unexpected” problems.

By planning ahead, and making every effort to get your kids involved in the trip, and giving the things to do to keep them occupied and interested, there will be less stress and everyone will have a better time. Have a great trip!

Toilet stories…. now here’s a part of travel you might not like to think about. If you’re traveling in rich, “first world” countries, you probably don’t need to worry too much about it. But if you’re traveling internationally, you’re probably going to run into a surprise or two. Talk to people who have been traveling internationally for a while, and they’re bound to have one or two amusing toilet stories. In the U.S. almost all toilets will be “pedestal style”. Some may be a bit run down, but they will mostly look the same. In Europe, most of the time you will find pedestal style toilets too. There are some pretty interesting flush mechanisms, so you may have to figure that out. If you get out into the countryside or into less developed countries, it’s just possible that you’ll run into some W Cs that are more like porcelain footprints with a hole. Seasoned travelers often say “Western style” and “Eastern Style”, but you can run into either anywhere in the world. You won’t always have that “throne”, so just make up your mind that you can deal with it. It always pays to have some tissues or toilet paper in your pocket. Even if you find a toilet that has a dispenser, it could be empty. In more rural areas and more undeveloped counties, TP might clog up the plumbing. In places like that, you’ll see wastebaskets with dirty paper… put yours there too. Finding a public toilet can be harder abroad than it is in the U.S. If you’re out wandering the street, look for train stations or department stores. If there is a U.S. style fast-food restaurant, you can find a toilet inside. Big hotels will have one tucked away in the lobby somewhere, and they are reliable for having TP. You can find one in restaurants too. If you’re not a customer, ask politely, most of the time they will let you use their W Cs. Never leave a museum or restaurant without going – even if you don’t need to. Who knows when you’ll find the next facility. Many big European cities have coin operated “toilet booths” on street corners. Public toilets often are pay toilets. Carry small change to pay for them. Some will be coin operated on the door, others will have attendants sitting by the door. Even if they don’t insist on you paying when you go in, it’s polite to leave a small tip… it’s usually only the equivalent of about 25 U.S. cents. Don’t expect them to have change… they might, or they might just keep the change if you don’t have anything small enough. It’s another way for them to make a little money… so plan ahead — don’t give away all of your “little money”. It’ll come in handy. Get used to occasionally having women cleaners in the Men’s rooms and sometimes men attendants in the Woman’s room. Lots of toilet stories come from these encounters, but they’re used to it, so you might as well just get comfortable with it too. When you get beyond Europe, you’ll run into more and more of those “Eastern Style” porcelain holes-in-the-ground. Some will even be just that — holes in the ground. OK… if you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go. Just deal with it, and you’ll come home with some toilet stories of your own.

Here are some tips for making your travel a bit easier.

On the Bus:
Many discount bus operators have emerged in the past year, giving penny-pincher passengers one-way tickets for as little as $1. They key to getting these cheap fares is, of course, to buy early. If you haven’t done so already, buy them now!

Like any wheeled vehicle, buses are still subject to traffic conditions, just like any other car. Bring a book, charge your iPod, try to travel outside of rush hour, and don’t cut your time too close. If you have to be at Aunt Millie’s place for dinner at 3 p.m., it’s best not to take the bus that is scheduled to arrive at 2:30 p.m. Try to be flexible.

Those traveling by bus after the holidays should check out MegaBus–the discount bus company is giving away 100,000 free bus tickets for travel between January 14 and March 18. Seeing as their tickets generally start at $1, and now they’re giving away 100,000 free tickets, I’m not really quite sure how the company stays in business. But hey, I’ll take it.

By Rail:
Those who don’t like the confinement of a bus or the lines at the airport can opt to travel the old-fashioned way. Sure, it might take some four hours to get from D.C. to New York on Amtrak (compared to the 45 minutes on a plane), but–and especially if you are lucky enough to sit in a “quiet car”–think of all the reading and/or sleep you can catch up on, and of all the leg cramping that you can avoid.

At the Airport:
Don’t try to pack food on the plane. It’s messy, and the whole point of traveling elsewhere for the holidays is to have someone else do all the cooking, right? TSA advises against trying to carry-on the following items: cranberry sauce, maple syrup, and gravy (among other foods). And while you can’t bring those foods on the plane, you can bring cakes and pies; however, desserts are subject to additional screening (because pumpkin pie can be lethal…).

On November 20, TSA implemented “Green” lanes to all of its security checkpoints nationwide. The Green lanes are part of the “Diamond Self-Select” program that TSA created earlier this year, and were tested in some 48 airports. The Green lanes are designated for families, those needing extra assistance, and passengers who aren’t familiar with security rules. Call it a segregation of the passengers who can take their time from those who are impatient, but either way, the Green lanes have been popular in airports so far, and should hopefully ease the security checkpoint process.

You can also reduce your time at the airport by checking into your flight online. Many airlines (like American Airlines or Southwest) will allow passengers to check in online and print out their boarding pass 24 hours before their scheduled flight. Currently, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and Continental are even testing a system that allows passengers scan their phone screen as a boarding pass. Delta passengers departing from LaGuardia can sign up online to receive a text message with their boarding pass bar code. Before they board the plane, all they have to do is hold up their phone to the bar code scanner, and they’re on their way. All passengers should also check out TSA’s Wait Time Calculator. Just enter your airport, day, and flight time and it will tell you the approximate time you will have to stand in line at the security checkpoint.

As always, with any travel, be prepared! Do your research! Don’t show up to any airport or rail station without proper I.D., your boarding pass, and plenty of holiday patience. And be nice to transportation employees. I’m quite sure that plane and train delays are not their fault, so don’t take it out on them.

Hope it helped you out…Chow..@_@

If you think 2008 was a rough year for the travel industry, you haven’t seen anything yet. Even before January was out, 2009 showed record drops in travel and bookings to some of the most historically recession-proof destinations . Virtually every sector of the travel industry is facing the worst booking rates in years, and few think the bottom is even in sight.

The situation may create opportunities for both savings and outstanding trips, but it will bring with it some volatility — flights may be canceled, hotels may eliminate staff or even close, and prices may fluctuate wildly such that what looks like a bargain today may appear more like price-gouging tomorrow.

While you could get away with being a bit of a passive shopper and lazy traveler when things were good, now that things aren’t so good it’s more important than ever to use smart travel strategies. Here are my tips for the tactics that have been available to folks for a while, and are now essential steps.

1. Check prices after you book your travel
Most reputable travel companies have some kind of pricing guarantee — i.e., if prices plunge after you have made your purchase, but before your travel date, the company will make up some or all of the difference. Airlines can be very problematic in this respect; most also apply their standard change fee, which will usually wipe out most or all of your potential savings. Other outfits, such as hotels, car rental companies, theme parks and some (but not all) cruise lines, are more likely to be accommodating.

2. Consider taking “dream vacations”
The week in Disney, the trip to Hawaii, the Caribbean waterfront resort stay, the “lost weekend” in Vegas — the old “dream vacation” standbys are almost criminally affordable at present. Where to look for the best deals? Try the most tourist-friendly places, where flights and hotels are abundant — and empty. Oceanfront hotels in Hawaii are going for $100 a night; famous four-star hotels in Las Vegas are asking $85-$125 a night; Miami is priced like it’s 1975. These are prices you used to get only at motels and geographically challenged hotels, but now you can get them right in the thick of the action.

3. Upgrade your expectations
Where you usually might settle for the moderately priced hotel a couple blocks off the beach, this year you are going to find oceanview rooms priced identically to their poorer first-floor-parking-lot cousins. When booking, ask for the room rates — and then ask if you can get a better room for the same price.

4. Book directly
Despite the abundance of competition online — and there will be plenty — 2009 is going to be a year of unadvertised specials. Merely by asking a real person for the best rates, you’ll get them in many cases. Whether it’s because they’re taking the chance that you don’t know any better and will book anyway, or their Web sites just can’t keep up with the rush of changing discounts, many travel companies can offer prices over the phone that they just can’t show everyone on the Web. Book hotels on the phone, purchase theme park tickets on the phone … do this with anything where a real person might be able to offer you a better deal.

5. Ask about amenities
A few weeks back, I wrote that some travel suppliers were trying to hold their rates steady while piling on the amenities as enticements, including free breakfasts, late check-outs, free spa access and room and cabin upgrades. This is still the case, but as base rates go down, some of these amenities may shrink and even disappear, and you will want to go in with your eyes open if this is the case. Additionally, layoffs are starting to pile up in the travel sector, and services may not be up to snuff as fewer folks try to do more of the work. You’ll want to know what to expect before you lock in a booking.

6. Confirm your flights
As suggested above, downsizing will be a serious, well, downside of the economic hard times, and in the worst cases, it could affect your travel dramatically. As route maps contract, you will want to check in with your airline before you travel. In the past few months, the airlines have been spotty about notifying travelers of changes that will affect their bookings, so you will want to look after yourself and make sure your flight still exists before you show up at the airport.

7. Confirm everything
Things could get even worse at hotels; industry analysts predict a rash of hotel closings if business prospects do not improve. Rental car companies also fit the bill; a couple are teetering on the cusp of bankruptcy, and you could arrive at a rental counter to find there is no rental counter. Again, call a few days before your trip to confirm that your reservation is still in order.

8. Book some things as late as possible
For admittedly glum reasons — things are likely going to get worse before they get better — these days I’m booking certain items as late as possible to take advantage of declining prices and last-minute deals. These include car rentals, theme park tickets and non-essential flights, for which I’ll be watching the weekend getaway notices.

9. Purchase travel insurance
With so much uncertainty in the air, travel insurance could protect you from many of the problems above. Make sure you read the fine print to be sure you are covered in the event of bankruptcy, flight cancellation or changes, financial default and more.

This column is often filled with the nuts and bolts of travel — how to do this, how to find that, when to duck and when to run, when to go and when to hunker down. We talk less about why we fret and endure all the complexities and hassle of traveling, assuming that, among fellow travelers, it’s understood.

But a crashing global economy and the uncertainty it creates would make anyone reconsider why they should travel right now. It turns out that a recession is a great time to travel, not only because we might have some unexpected time on our hands, but for a host of other reasons besides. Why travel now?
1. No one else is
Many travelers bemoan the fact that wherever they go, they are surrounded by, well, other travelers. And sometimes lots of other travelers, which translates to another reviled evil of travel: crowds.A phrase says“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.” If ever applied to the urge to travel, now is the time. Airports and (some) planes are empty, hotels are vacant, attractions are uncrowded and tourist boom towns seem like ghost towns. Now is the time to have your next destination all to yourself.

2. It’s cheap
And we mean really cheap. Like (if you do your homework) half-price cheap. Airlines are gutting their bottom lines with ridiculous fare sales, hotels are offering free breakfasts on top of free nights on top of discounts, and gas prices are at pre-1970’s gas crisis prices which is even more impressive when you note that vehicles are much more fuel-efficient today than they were 30 years ago.

3. The roads are clear
It may not seem to be the case at 5:30 p.m., but Americans are driving much less these days — in the billions of miles less, according to AAA. Between this and low gas prices, 2009 may be the ideal year for a road trip.

4. Things are bad all over
Until recently, Americans taking dollars abroad found themselves a bit down and out — the dollar didn’t have anywhere near the purchasing power it once did in most popular international destinations. However, times have changed, and they are hard times for most global currencies; the dollar is just one weak currency amid lots of other weak currencies, which means it’s worth a lot more than it was just a few months ago. The upside of this is that it could very well cost you the same to go to Italy as it does to Arizona.

One offshoot of the global crisis has been an increase in house swapping; instead of ponying up $200 a night for a hotel, get online and swap your house even-steven with another traveler from your destination city.

5. You can put your troubles in the rear view mirror
Traveling to other parts of the world, particularly less developed countries, is a way of simultaneously escaping your own problems and putting those problems into perspective. Seeing new things and meeting new people can help you get out of the cycle of working and worrying, and your own problems may not seem so large when you see the context of how most of the rest of the world lives.

6. You need it
A recent study in the U.K. found that while many families are willing to work longer hours and give up certain luxuries, they are most reluctant to give up their holiday time. Fancy phones, big TV’s, lavish parties, expensive meals … these are all things we can do without. But a little time to ourselves, with no one making constant demands on us, is a much more basic human need than any such baubles and bunkum. And for those of us who love to travel, experiences and memories are more important and meaningful than flashy stuff.

7. You may well have the money; you just have to find and extract it
I’m not talking about turning down the heat so low you have to eat breakfast wrapped in blankets.

8. Your money moves around anyway
I do not take lightly the very real challenges some folks are facing on the financial front. But if you are still more or less solvent, one of the truisms of a capitalistic economy is that money wants to move one way or another. That is, when people stopped spending money on gasoline last year, bicycle shops experienced a boom they hadn’t seen since Lance Armstrong burst on the scene. In the end, did folks who spent $800 on a road-ready bike save $800 in gas in a short time? Meanwhile, at present, restaurants are hurting while the cookbook business, of all things, is booming. (In this case, you really can save money cooking instead of eating out, of course.) Dollar stores are the darlings of Wall Street.

The bottom line: Folks still spend, but they spend a little less, and in different places. If you’re moving your money around anyway, a memorable and deeply refreshing trip merits serious consideration.

9. Life is too long (or too short) for bad coffee
The gag that life is too short for bad coffee always struck me as being backwards — I think that life is too long for bad coffee. Seventy-seven years, day after day after day, of the same scalded industrial-quality coffee can’t be called good living. Likewise, day after day after day of the same grueling commute, the same nasty traffic circle, the same parking spot, the same chips and cheese sandwich at the office mess (you see where this is going), is much too long a slog to take without a break.

10. The world keeps on turning
All those places that you want to visit before they’re gone, from rapidly changing cultures to endangered places, aren’t disappearing any slower just because the economy is tanking. You want to make sure you visit them not only before they are gone, but before you are gone — and none of us are getting any younger. Why travel now? Because now is the time!