Travel Tips Digest

These days everything you hear is about “going green.” I guess I never gave it a whole lot of thought until I read in the news that the North Pole was going to melt this summer. That really seemed to drive home the idea that something needs to change.

So with that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of 8 Green Travel Tips to help you “Go Green” on your next vacation or trip. Don’t worry, with the exception of the luggage, nothing here is too drastic!

1. Go before you go.

If you want to avoid making a little CO2, use the airport bathroom, not the one on the plane, since, believe it or not, the fuel used for every airplane flush could run a car for six miles. Plus, I don’t know about you, but I still have an unrealisting phobia of getting “sucked in.”

2. Save The Earth One 4 Star Hotel At A Time

Four-star green hotels show that eco-friendly doesn’t mean cockroach-friendly. You’ll get efficient lighting and water fixtures, alternative fuel vehicles, and recycling. If 10,000 people stay at hotels with efficient toilets, faucets and showerheads, each night we’ll save enough water to fill 11,263 whirlpool bathtubs. And I know those whirlpool bathtubs look ever so wonderful, but think about it, do you REALLY want to put your butt in something where God knows who has been? Skip it and save the earth.

3. Lighten your eco-baggage.

Most luggage contains eco-unfriendly materials (like the plastic PVC, which lets off cancer-causing chemicals during production) that make us want to avoid the baggage carousel at all costs. There are durable, just as attractive options made from materials like veggie-tanned leather and hemp. And you don’t even need to own a pair of Birkenstocks to look cool with it!

4. Think Hybrid For Your Next Rental

Some car rental companies are now offering hybrids as an option. With gas at or over $4.00 a gallon right now, getting 40 MPG is nothing to sniff at. The Prius also has nice acceleration and a decent amount of trunk space. (Although I’ve never seen a car with “sufficient” trunk space for a wife and 2 daughters…)

5. White powder, green resorts.

When it’s ski season, choose your winter wonderlands in the form of an eco-ski resort. Realizing that global warming could cause shorter seasons, resorts are teaming up to go green, providing alternative fuel shuttles, introducing recycling programs, and installing solar panels.

6. Skip the plastic bottled water.

I learned this tip from GoGreenLifestyle.net. Did you know that Americans use 4 million plastic bottles every hour—but only 1 in 4 is recycled? I believe it because I just started recycling my own water bottles just a few months ago after years of throwing them out.

When on the go or in-flight, make sure to fill up a reusable bottle at the airport or in your hotel room, because believe it or not, bottled water isn’t always cleaner, and the production, shipment, and disposal of plastic water bottles are taking an enormous toll on the environment. What’s the best alternative? Stainless Steel. It’s cleaner, safer and all around better for you.

7. Get Back To Nature.

Want to go wild on your next getaway? Choose from a huge variety of eco-adventures that get you off the beaten path, are sustainable, and support local economies. Not just for campers, you have the option of staying at boutique green hotels. Don’t let “boutique” fool you - some of these hotels feature white water rafting, rock climbing and various other rugged sports. On the other hand, there’s always time for a massage…

8. Chill out and get eco-pampered.

Now that I sound like a complete chauvinist, let me make it up by saying that while I don’t personally do the spa thing, my wife loves it and I love the way she feels about herself after going. These include rejuvenating, organic-oil aromatherapy and purifying enzyme baths that are not only good for you, but good for the environment.

Check out an eco-spa. Eco-spas use non-toxic and biodegradable products on your bod, and some spas are even built using sustainable materials. The best eco-spas pay their workers fair wages and use non-toxic chemicals to clean their facilities.

These tips are just the beginning of what you can do to make the world a better place and still enjoy your travel experience. Even if you do just one thing on your next trip, you’ll make a difference. The key is that we all have to do something.

Matt Kepnes wrote a cool article listing some of the biggest parties around the world. While my party til I puke days are a bit behind me, I found some of these to be pretty interesting. I actually had only heard of 2 of the parties, which surprised me. I thought I knew most of the BIG ones out there.

These are listed in no particular order:

1. La Tomatina

Going strong since 1945, this food fight to end all food fights is in the tiny town of Buñol in the Valencia region of Spain. Want to go get hammered with tomatoes? Then head over the last Wednesday in August and make sure to take some goggles and some throw away clothes. There’s not enough triple action Shout in the world to get all those stains out!

2. Full Moon Party

What started out as a hippy party in the 80’s is now a 20,000 strong party every full moon. This all day and all night event is located in Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand. Make sure to take your throw away clothes, including shoes - God knows what’s going to end up on them!

3. Burning Man

I have to admit, this party looks more like a scene out of Mad Max than an all out party, but hey, it draws 47,000 people so it qualifies as BIG. This is an 8 day festival that culminates in the burning of a 72ft wooden man. Each year has a theme (this year, it’s “American Dream”) The cool thing about this party is you don’t bring money. Everything is bartered. You only buy water and ice. Bring your essential camping gear and lots of sunblock - and of course some goods to barter with!

4. Songkran

According to Matt, “Songkran is the Thai New Year. It’s a spiritual festival designed to cool you down and wash away the sins of the previous year. What better way of doing that than by committing a few new ones, right away? Songkran takes place all over the country with everyone embarking on possibly the world’s largest water fight.” - So bring your water gun, something you don’t mind getting soaked and a good attitude. This may not be the place to go if you get grumpy once you start drinking!

5. Glastonbury Music Festival

Last year’s event had over 177,000 people and 700 musical acts. Now THAT’S a party! This festival spans 3 days, so bring your tent and whatever you need to survive that many people and that much fun!

6. Holi

This is India’s version of Songkran. Instead of getting soaked with water, you get colored flour dumped on you AND soaked with water. Best make sure you have some throwaway clothes, (these parties all seem to have a recurring theme of “throwaway clothes…)

7. Bay to Breakers

The third Sunday in May, you can head to San Francisco for the Bay To Breakers. This was originally a 7 mile foot race, but now it’s 7 miles of costumes and kegs. What more could you want?

8. Australia Day

Apparantly, Australians love two things: beer and bbqs. No day brings out the best in these two than Australia Day, when Aussies celebrate the first European settlement on the continent of Australia. Celebrated January 26th, just show up with some Australian beer and something to throw on the barbie anywhere in Australia and you’re ready to party!

9. Queen’s Day

Throw on something orange and celebrate the birth of Queen Beatrix. This party held April 30th, (it’s too cold to celebrate her actual birthday in January), features the ever important beer and music. The canals are filled with Dutch as the celebrate and let loose!

10. Calgary Stampede

Here’s a 10 day rodeo that attracts millions of visitors during it’s course. You need a healthy respect for country music, but in return you’ll have plenty of girl (or boy) watching and of course, lots of drinking and parties. Oh yeah, there’s a huge rodeo, too!

Of course, there are many other parties out there where you can get your groove on, paint yourself any color you like and wake up in the bushes of the wrong hotel - but check these out.

So what are my travel tips for these parties? Mainly, make sure you wake up in the bushes of your own hotel. Be security conscious when it comes to your wallet and passport. I’ll be publishing some safety tips soon to help you out. Aside from that, take plenty of throw away clothes. This is a great time to empty out your closet of stuff you’ve been meaning to trash and never got around to.

Do you know some big parties that didn’t make the list (I can think of a few…) - let me know in the comments!

Need to go somewhere in a hurry? Hope you’re not flying through Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. According to the 2007 Bureau of Transportation statistics, this airport ranks #1 for travel delays. Right behind O’Hare are Newark and Kennedy International. Definitely not a status any airport is proud to display.

So who’s the best? General Lyman Airport in Hilo, Hawaii. Their delays are almost non-existent and Hawaii’s airlines are known for their timely departure and arrivals.

Here’s a quick rundown of the worst airports out there in terms of travel delays:

1. Chicago O’Hare
2. Newark Liberty International
3. Kennedy International
4. La Guardia
5. Dallas/Ft. Worth International
6. San Francisco International
7. Logan International
8. Philadelphia International
9. Hartsfield-Jackson
10. Minneapolis St. Paul International

So you’re forced to travel through O’Hare and feel doomed? Never fear! Subscribe to my newsletter over there on the right and get my free “Travel Secrets Revealed!” In it, I share not only air travel tips to make it through some of these delays faster (security), but also how to enjoy the wait a little more!

With flight delays long enough to make a nun swear, it’s important to know how to make getting to your destination as easy as possible.  Here are 13 air travel tips to help you get there with a little more sanity:

• Fly early in the day. At airports scheduled to capacity, any delay in the morning means there will be at least that much of a delay for every flight thereafter.
• Depart a day in advance for crucial trips, such as a business meeting or a wedding.

Read the rest of this entry »

So yesterday we talked about the pros and cons of checking your bags at the airport. Today, let’s see if you’re any better off shipping your luggage ahead of time…

Who: FedEx, UPS, DHL, the United States Postal Service and other all-purpose shipping companies

Price: The cost varies widely based on the size and weight of your bag, the distance it needs to travel, and the speed of service that you select. To send a 40-pound suitcase from New York to San Francisco in five days, UPS quoted us a fee of $48.91. Want it there in three days? The price soars to $119.

Raise the weight of the bag to 60 pounds, and UPS charges $65.13 for five-day delivery — which could be less than the penalties you’ll pay for exceeding your airline’s weight limit. (Most airlines charge fees for any bags exceeding 50 pounds.)

Pros: These services are quite reliable and will generally give you a tracking number so that you can keep tabs on the whereabouts of your bag.

They’re less expensive than specialized luggage services, and (as in the example above) could be more economical than checking a bag with your airline under certain circumstances.

Shipping your bags ahead of time allows you to skip check-in lines and waiting around at baggage claim. Also, do you REALLY want to haul around a 60+ pound suitcase through God knows how many terminals, people movers and escalators to get to the outside world and your shuttle or rental car?

Cons: UPS, FedEx and the like do not offer as much personal service as the smaller luggage shipping companies.

You may need to drop your bag off at a designated shipping location or arrange for a special pickup several days before your trip.

Service may only be available on business days.

In most cases, shipping your bags will be pricier than checking them on your airline.

Luggage shipping companies

Who: Luggage Forward, Luggage Concierge, Luggage Free, Luggage Club, Sports Express and many others

Price: To send a 40-pound bag between New York and San Francisco, the lowest price we found on Luggage Forward was $94 each way (for delivery within four to seven days). Luggage Free, which charges per pound, gave us a quote of $66 for five-day delivery of a 40-pound bag, plus a fuel charge that varies by market and a standard pickup fee of $40.

Pros: Because these companies are fairly small, you’ll get a lot of personal attention. If your itinerary changes, an agent will handle all the details of rerouting your luggage.
These companies are experienced at dealing with luggage in all shapes and sizes, including skis, surf boards, golf clubs, bicycles and monster-sized bags.

The luggage shipping services generally guarantee that your bags will arrive on time and unscathed — which is more than you can expect from an airline!

As with the standard shipping companies, using these luggage shipping companies will allow you to bypass check-in lines and baggage carousels. Instead, your luggage will be waiting for you at your hotel when you arrive.

Cons: Personalized service comes at a price. These companies will almost always be your most expensive option.

Like the standard delivery companies, these agencies typically do not deliver on weekends (though some Saturday services may be available).

You’ll need to plan ahead enough to pack early and arrange for a pickup time before you leave for your trip.

Conclusion: So what should you do? Well, every circumstance may dictact different options. If you’re traveling with your family of 4 to Disney for a week, I’d suggest shipping as much as you can ahead of time as long as your hotel will store it for you pending your arrival. (Try to time the shipment the day before your arrival time if possible). If you’re just going on a business trip and have one bag, then you may just want to take your chances to check your suitcase with the carrier. It’ll save you money and with luck will be there when you get there.

If you thought you were mad when the airlines lost your luggage before - try paying $25 for the “privilege” now! Is your wife or girlfriend travelling with you? Make that closer to $50 for the overweight bag you just got a hernia lugging out of the trunk.

Now that the airlines charge for the first bag you check in, So is there a better way? Maybe. Have you considered shipping your luggage ahead of time to your final destination? While I can’t help you get your wife/girl to pack lighter, here are some things to consider making a final decision to check bags or ship luggage.

One important note: Shipping luggage is generally not an economical option if you’re flying overseas. Most airlines still allow travelers to check two bags for free on international flights, and shipping a bag outside the United States can easily cost as much as your airfare. The information below is geared toward domestic travelers.

Who: All major airlines

Price: This varies from airline to airline. Some airlines still allow passengers to check a single bag for free. Exceptions to this rule include American, United, US Airways and Spirit, all of whom charge $15 for the first bag you wish to check. After that first bag, you’ll have to pay on almost every airline. On AirTran, it’s $10 for a second bag; on JetBlue, it’s $20; and on American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Spirit, United and US Airways, it’s $25.

In most cases these fees do not apply to elite fliers, passengers who have paid full fare on a particular route, and travelers flying internationally beyond the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. In other words, people shelling out a ton of money to begin with to fly… Always check your airline’s Web site for exact terms and conditions.

Pros: Despite the new fees, checking your bags is usually still the cheapest option for travelers bringing only one or two pieces of luggage.

Checking bags is convenient if you are a last-minute packer, since you don’t need to make advance arrangements for dropping off your bag or having it picked up.

When the system works properly, your luggage departs and arrives at the same time you do.

Cons: Even if you pay a fee to check a bag, there’s no guarantee that the airline won’t lose or trash your luggage.

You’ll have to wait in line to check your bags before your flight, and then wait again at the baggage carousel after you arrive. If you have a stopover, you might get to repeat this fun more than once!

Hauling your own bags to and from the airport can wear you out, and it’s less convenient than having a shipping service do all the work for you.

If your bags are overweight or you’re checking more than two items, you could pay dearly in airline penalties — making shipping a more economical option.

So that’s the skinny on checking your bags. Tune in tomorrow for thoughts on shipping your luggage so you can compare and see what’s best for you!