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June 28, 2007

Readers Comment on the Currency of Travel

 
My enthusiasm for the power of plastic in currency conversion elicited a number of responses and additional tips that are surely worth sharing along with my humble admission that perhaps traveler's checks do have a place in my travel vernacular and valise. Here are some readers' comments and tips.

"I've been to Europe many times. Usually, I take at least $100 in US dollars and $250 in traveler's checks for an emergency. While I agree the ATM reliability has improved over the years, safe is better than sorry. Fortunately, the wad of $1000 in traveler's checks is a thing of the past."

Technical difficulties: "When in Australia, there was a software glitch or a broken cable and U.S. and New Zealand customers could not get to their cash via ATM for two days."

Synchronization: "When 9 hours of time differences exist, the San Francisco bank that is having file maintenance for an hour at 3:00 a.m. is updating the system during lunch in Western Europe."

Local Issues: "When driving into Switzerland, a vignette, or prepaid toll sticker, must be purchased for cash on the spot. No ATM there either."

"Having had cards embargoed because the credit card company got suspicious of misuse, we always call before we leave and alert the credit card company of where we'll be."

"Regardless of where the currency conversion is done with a credit card purchase, at the ATM you know it's being done at the bank rate, which tends to be the best rate available."

"ATM currency conversion is the best thing that's happened to travel since they put wheels on suitcases!"

"In recent months, I've I noticed a new fee on my credit card statement for currency conversion. Apparently some credit cards are now charging or attaching a fee to currency conversion on credit card purchases."

"I landed in Milan at midnight and was starving. By the time I made it to my hotel, I wish I had brought some euros with me as the late night eateries said no to credit and traveler's checks."

Care to add you own comments?

Have a question for Tom?
Tom Conway, who embraces the wisdom of his readers, looks forward to your questions, comments and tips.

Posted by Tom at 11:35 AM | | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

June 27, 2007

Jail Time in France for Faking It

It’s time to knock off your love of knock-offs, especially if your travel plans take you to France.  The land of Chanel, Lacoste and Vuitton is taking the act of product counterfeiting seriously and is waging a campaign against the illegal practice. Anyone feigning ignorance of the law will receive a quick lesson from authorities as fines can exceed 300,000 euros and three years in prison.  (The cost of fashion just went up.)

Posted by Tom at 8:27 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 26, 2007

Friends Don’t Let Friends Procrastinate

Today we revisit wisdom from the ages. In 50 BC Rome, philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero spoke the immortal words, “Before beginning, plan carefully.” (Top that, Socrates.) And while the man did not mince words, two thousand years later, his simple truth endures, especially from the perspective of the business traveler. Early planning can be your biggest ally, particularly this summer when travel numbers will set new record levels.

The sooner you plan a trip, the better your travel options: better fare availability (14-day advance purchase as opposed to full fare coach), better routing (nonstop flights as opposed to multi-stop with lengthy layovers), better seat selection (aisle seat as opposed to killer-B middle), better hotel selection (mid-town, four-star penthouse as opposed to rural freeway-accessible motor court), and better rental car models (Sporty Mustang convertible as opposed to a sporty mustang with saddle).  While it may seem like I'm stating the obvious, I contend that the traveler’s most formidable foe is not a crowded airport, oversold flight or surly gate agent; it’s an unsuspecting culprit called procrastination.

Posted by Tom at 10:25 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 22, 2007

You Thought You Had a Poopy Flight?

There are times when I feign ignorance about the travel industry and lead the listener to believe that my occupation is that of a hand model. "Oh yeah, I'm the official wrist of Rolex and Patek Phillipe." For if I dare mention my former airline affiliation or current travel agency employment, a floodgate of lengthy travel stories will deluge me. "There we were in Amsterdam awaiting our flight to Tangiers when...and then we sat next to the this crying..." You get the idea.

This week, I came across a travel story worthy of retelling, one that floats to the top as the poopiest travel story of recent memory. And as a former hand model, I wouldn't touch this incident with a ten-foot pinkie, but I'll let you read all about it. 

The Seattle Times: Passengers on trans-Atlantic flight endure sewage in aisles.

Posted by Tom at 8:04 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 21, 2007

Life's a Beach...at Least for Dr. Leatherman

In celebration of the official beginning of summer, a perennial favorite seems perfect for our latest Web sighting: America's Best Beaches. Please note, fresh water bodies need not apply. Best known as Dr. Beach, Stephen Leatherman, Professor and Director of the International Hurricane Center of Florida International University annually ranks America's ocean beaches while considering 50 physical factors. Who knew there are so many things to deliberate: sand softness, turbidity (don't ask), beach slope, lifeguards and what about tar balls and jellyfish?

Posted by Tom at 11:06 AM | | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

June 20, 2007

Dynamic Currency Conversion: Say What?

Q: I spent some time in Europe recently and noticed some merchants would charge me in U.S. dollars instead of the local currency. That seemed odd to me. What's this about?  — M.T.

A. Welcome to the world of Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). While it sounds like something that requires the services of an electrician, it's actually a financial practice where a merchant settles the charge in your credit card's home currency rather than the currency of the country you're in.

Basically the exchange transaction is converted at the point of sale rather than weeks later. It's handy for expense accounts as you know the amount charged prior to receiving your statement.

On the other hand, there are fees included that may result in a less competitive exchange rate.

I recommend checking with your financial institution about credit card policies and the fees associated with currency exchange whether from an ATM or point of sale.

In addition, if you've never charged outside the U.S. or it's been a while, your bank may find your charges abroad suspicious and suspend your card until you contact them. Let them know of your travel plans ahead of time.

While DCC is becoming a common practice, especially in the hospitality industry, cardholders do have a choice.

The practice is not a mandate, but an option. Take a good look at your charge receipt before signing, if you have a preference.

Care to comment below about your experiences?

Posted by Tom at 3:44 PM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

June 19, 2007

Put Down the Sippy Cup and No One Gets Hurt

If Andy Warhol was alive today, I believe he'd reevaluate his most famous observation, "In the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes." Yep, I think he'd call for a rewrite, "In the future everyone will be videotaped for 15 minutes."

Truth be told, being videotaped unwittingly is one of my more reasonable fears. There you are singing show tunes in the HOV lane, or returning a dried-out scone to the breakfast buffet line when someone records it for viewing on five continents on countless computers.

This week the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released video footage of a woman who claimed she was hassled by the TSA Officers at Washington’s Reagan National Airport over a sippy cup. (I could undertand the concern if she was brandishing a Super Gulp.)

There’s no escaping the camera. Did she toss the liquid or did it accidentally spill. Well that’s for you to decide. (I think Mommy may have received a TSA time-out.)

TSA footage of the sippy cup incident.

Posted by Tom at 4:23 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 18, 2007

Cell Phones Lots 'O' Love

Gone are the days of parking curbside at the terminal awaiting your party, with nary an eye or interest from anyone in uniform. There was a time when I'd polish chrome while I waited. Nowadays, not so much, without be carted away to a holding cell or profile on a no-fly list.

There is a relatively new alternative: the cell phone lot. Many airports are providing parking lots where chauffeurs (personal or otherwise) can wait for the arrival phone call, and pick up the party curbside without threat of ticket or tow truck. New York's JFK is the latest to provide a cell phone lot.

To ease airport traffic congestion, many major U.S. airports provide a cell phone waiting lot, and thankfully it's a growing trend. Here's a sampling.

  • Chicago
  • Los Angeles
  • San Diego
  • Seattle
  • Washington (DCA)

    •  

    Posted by Tom at 11:07 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

    Temporary Flexibility for Pending Passport Applications

    Hold the presses, passport applicants have a bit of reprieve as the onslaught of passport applications has caused a processing backlog. 

    The headline is a bit of a mouthful, and there's more. The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports can nevertheless temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air with a government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through September 30, 2007. (Whew!) The federal government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand. For more information see links below:

    U.S. Citizens with Pending Passport Applications
    Temporary Travel Flexibility for U.S. Citizens Air Environment

    Some travelers may be eligible for refunds for delays in expedited passport application. Read more about this on our blog.

    Posted by Tom at 10:56 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

    June 14, 2007

    Air France Lands in Seattle

    Beginning this week, Seattleites and Parisians will be able to enjoy their cafe au laits vis-a-vis, as Air France inaugurated daily nonstop Seattle-Paris service. The first flight was greeted with the exuberance of corked champagne as fire trucks stood on ceremony and welcomed the flight with arching water sprays.

     

    Posted by Tom at 3:21 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

    June 13, 2007

    Global Health Point to Point

    With the recent round-the-world escapades of a would-be groom and confirmed tubercular, travel health is on the front page and in the front of every traveler's mind. CNN takes a look at the subject in: "Business travelers exposed to health risks."

    As someone who holds his breath in an elevator, the confines of an airplane make me pale with worry as the air 6C was breathing has now made its way back to me in 8D, and will repeatedly throughout the flight. (Appears the gent had garlic for lunch.) Let's hear it for the Hepa filter and staying home.

    And while an apple a day may keep the doctor away when you’re biding your time at home, what’s the answer to good health when you’re on the road?

    Here are two of my favorite sources of health information for the traveler:
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    World Health Organization (WHO).

    Be sure to check out Travelers’ Health from the CDC. Look here for regional outbreaks, health references and vaccination information. And while Avian flu may be in the travel news, it's malaria that remains one of the most serious diseases on the planet, killing over one million people a year.

    Also, check the following links to learn about international health issues and destination information: Travelers' Health by region and World Health Organization by country

    Here's to your travel health and finding out what you need to know to stay healthy before you go.

    Have a question for Tom?
    Tom Conway, who contends airline blankets are really polyester-blend petri dishes, looks forward to your questions, comments and tips.

     

    Posted by Tom at 2:26 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

    June 12, 2007

    Refunding Far-From-Expeditious Passport Processing

    If you opted to pay the additional $60 to have your passport processing expedited, you may be in line for a refund if your passport was delayed.  According to The Post-Standard, you're eligible for a refund if you paid for expedited service, only to receive your passport two weeks later. 

    How to get refunds on expedited passport fees.

    Submit a written request to the address below. Include your passport number (if available), name, date and place of birth, and approximate date you applied for a passport. A mailing address and phone number should also be included.

    Refund applications should be sent to:

    Department of State
    Passport Services/PPS/Refunds
    2100 Pennsylvania Ave NW
    Washington, DC 20037-3202

    Posted by Tom at 4:30 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

    June 8, 2007

    Hotel Tip: Know Before You Go

    Q: I find that booking a flight is pretty straightforward, but do you have any tips for booking hotels? There's quite a selection out there.
    — Jeff B.

    A. Jeff, I love hotels. People pick up after me; food magically appears after one phone call; no one can blame me for the decor; and I get to try out new shampoos. What's not to love? But you're right, the choices in hotel offerings are a plenty.

    Growing up in the era of the motel, I welcomed our summer road trips, where each day my parents would pore over the pages of the AAA hotel book to figure out where we'd stay each night. Dad required vacancy; Mom needed cleanliness; Sis pined for a place to mope and I sought an establishment where one quarter could buy me a ride on a shaking bed. (It was an allowance well spent.) Yes Jeff, just like you suggested, there's a lot to consider in selecting a motel or hotel, as the case may be.

    As a business traveler, your tastes are likely more demanding and sophisticated, selecting accommodations based on location, price, amenities, company policy and ambience.

    There really has been a hotel content revolution over the last few years. As a traveler, I can investigate every hotel choice before I book it. When I arrive at the hotel I've already mapped its location, taken a dip in the pool, checked out local venues and worked up a healthy glow in the gym-virtually of course, but I've experienced the hotel's offerings nonetheless. Here's how I select and book a hotel booking on Expedia Corporate Travel.  

  • Log on
  • Select Hotels
  • Location, location, location: I use "search near address".
  • Or search near city, airport, or attraction if applicable
  • Sort the results to your liking: Expedia Picks, Price, Hotel Name, City, Hotel Class or Distance (I usually opt for distance).
  • Narrow it down to a couple choices
  • Click hotel name to visit it virtually and check out the following hotel info:
  • Overview: get a feel for the place
  • Location: Map and Points of Interest. (I've found "walking distance" is a subjective term.)
  • Hotel Features: hotel description and amenities (Room service: are there two more perfect words in the English?)
  • Traveler opinions, ratings from 1 to 5

    • In addition to checking out the traveler ratings summary, I often visit sister site Tripadvisor.com for hotel reviews. Whether scathing or gushing, the hotel reviews are not only informative but equally entertaining (lots of references to the Bates Motel). Former hotel guests give you the straight and skinny on their stays. You can get a real sense of the property. I tend to discount adjective-laden reviews chased by an army of exclamation points; makes me think the front desk clerk is dallying online during his/her graveyard shift.

    Booking a hotel these days is relatively easy and online profiles and reviews have taken much of the guesswork out of hotel unknowns. I'd have to say Jeff, that online resources, like hotel offerings, can be most accommodating.

     

    Have a question for Tom?
    Tom Conway, whose in-room mini-fridge bill once equaled what he had paid for his first 10-speed, looks forward to your comments.

     

    Posted by Tom at 10:58 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

    June 7, 2007

    Atlanta Hospitality


    Scarlett O'Hara once received unsolicited travel advice that she'd be better off visiting Savannah, as a trip to Atlanta would just get her in trouble. (So she made a beeline for Atlanta.)

    Where's your favorite place to stay in Georgia's state capital?

    Comment on great places to stay in other cities:
    Atlanta
    Boston
    Chicago
    Dallas
    Denver
    Las Vegas
    London
    Los Angeles
    New York
    San Francisco
    Seattle
    Toronto
    Washington, D.C.

    Posted by Tom at 12:15 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

    June 6, 2007

    Tah-Dah! Airline Quality Ratings: The Results Are In

    It's not quite the Academy Awards, but the annual Airline Quality Rating (AQR) study results are in. The AQR study is conducted by the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute, and uses objective, performance-based data to compare quality among airlines. The criteria, readily available from published data sources of each airline, include areas such as baggage handling, on-time arrivals, denied boarding, and 15 elements of customer service. (Speaking from experience, who would have thought there were that many?)

    The AQR ranked (from highest to lowest) the top ten major airlines for 2006 as follows: Hawaiian, JetBlue, AirTran, Frontier, Northwest, Southwest, Continental, United, Alaska, and American. Hawaiian had the best on-time record at 93.8 percent and the best baggage handling record of 3.14 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers. To view the AQR study and more AQR information, click here.

    Posted by Tom at 2:49 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

    June 1, 2007

    In-Flight Exercise or Drop and Give Me Twenty

     

    Q: I have a couple long flights to Asia coming up and wonder what your thoughts are about exercising on the plane. I'm worried about circulation after sitting so long.
    — Leslie B.

    A. Hmmm, Leslie, considering my favorite bench press involves a burger and bratwurst, I may not be the best person to ask about exercise; but since your question entails a plane, I deem myself eminently qualified.

    It looks to me that you're worried about Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT, a condition also called Economy Class Syndrome. Basically, long periods of sitting still and inactivity can cause blood clots that may slow or stop blood flow. (Hopefully this doesn't apply to watching TV or time in a hammock.)

    Medical experts don't suggest you drop and give us twenty on your next long-haul flight, but there is a consensus that travelers should consider some healthy diversions as in-flight preventative measures to avoid DVT. (See, you can exercise at 30,000 feet.) Medical experts suggest some of the following precautions may help:

  • Drink plenty of water
  • Stretch, try isometrics, move about cabin
  • Don't take sedatives or sleeping pills
  • Wear comfortable clothing (This is not permission to wear a sweatsuit.)
  • Avoid alcohol to prevent dehydration (Can this be right?)
  • Don't cross legs (as if there's room to)
  • If at risk, wear compression socks and consult your physician

    • Many airlines in the long-haul business have developed resources to address travelers' in-flight health concerns.

    British Airways' online health and medical information section covers everything from planning your flight to jet lag.

    Continental Airlines offers tips for healthy travel complete with some snappy drawings of in-flight exercises.

    (Warning: the knee-to-chest stretch can elicit judgmental glares from fellow passengers, and threaten already weak trouser seams.)

    Qantas also offers some helpful tips for your in-flight health, including an in-flight workout.

    So Leslie, use your discretion in following the tips listed above. If you opt for a little in-flight stretch and isometrics, try it at home first. Sharp and unpracticed moves can leave crew members and fellow passengers lightly bruised and mildly dazed.

    Have a question for Tom?
    Tom Conway, who remembers last touching (and seeing) his toes in 1999, looks forward to your questions, comments and tips below:

    Posted by Tom at 7:43 AM | | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)