crabbwc, Author at The Crazy Travel Guy

How You Can Spot a Travel Scam

March 1, 2016 crabbwc Savings, Travel

Unlike most products, travel services usually have to be paid for before they are delivered. This creates opportunities for disreputable individuals and companies. Some travel packages turn out to be very different from what was presented or what the consumer expected. Some don’t materialize at all!

Wonder how you can spot a travel scam?

If you receive an offer by phone or mail for a free or extremely low-priced vacation trip to a popular destination (often Hawaii or Florida), there are a few things you should look for:

* Does the price seem too good to be true? If so, it probably is.

* Are you asked to give your credit card number over the phone?

* Are you pressured to make an immediate decision?

* Is the carrier simply identified as “a major airline,” or does the representative offer a collection of airlines without being able to say which one you will be on?

* Is the representative unable or unwilling to give you a street address for the company?

* Are you told you can’t leave for at least two months? (The deadline for disputing a credit card charge is 60 days, and most scam artists know this.)

If you encounter any of these symptoms, proceed cautiously. Ask for written information to be sent to you; any legitimate travel company will be happy to oblige. If they don’t have a brochure, ask for a day or two to think it over; most bona fide deals that are good today will still be good two days from now. If they say no to both requests, this probably isn’t the trip for you.

Some other advice on how you can spot a travel scam:

* If you are told that you’ve won a free vacation, ask if you have to buy something else in order to get it. Some packages have promoted free air fare, as long as you buy expensive hotel arrangements. Others include a free hotel stay, but no air fare.

* If you are seriously considering the vacation offer and are confident you have established the full price you will pay, compare the offer to what you might obtain elsewhere. Frequently, the appeal of free air fare or free accommodations disguises the fact that the total price is still higher than that of a regular package tour.

* Get a confirmed departure date, in writing, before you pay anything. Eye skeptically any promises that an acceptable date will be arranged later. If the package involves standby or waitlist travel, or a reservation that can only be provided much later, ask if your payment is refundable if you want to cancel, and don’t pay any money you can’t afford to lose.

Check In Flight Travel Tips

February 4, 2016 crabbwc Air Travel

The first part of every trip is checking in. It is also one that is most dreaded. Between long lines at ticket counters and going through security it’s easy to be stressed before your tip even begins. Hopefully the check in flight travel tips will help relieve your frustration and get your trip off with little or no headaches.

Check In Flight Travel Tips

The first thing that you can do, if you have booked online, is to also check in online. You can usually check in 24 hours before your flight, get your boarding pass, and even pay for any luggage you have to check. Anything you can do before you reach the airport will speed up the process.

For domestic flights, ensure that you check in 2 hours before your flight time. For international flights you should check in 3 hours early. For either type of flights, make sure that you have all your documentation readily available. You will need your ticket, proper identification, and for international flights, your passport and, if required, your visa.

Don’t check in at the last minute. Even if you make the flight, your bag may not. If you miss the airline’s check-in deadline, the carrier might not assume liability for your bag if it is delayed or lost. If you have a choice, select flights that minimize the potential for baggage disruption. The likelihood of a bag going astray increases from #1 to #4 below (i.e., #1 is safest): 1) nonstop flight 2) direct or ‘through’ flight (one or more stops, but no change of aircraft) 3) online connection (change of aircraft but not airlines) 4) interline connection (change of aircraft and airlines)

Check with the airline on luggage weight restrictions. Different airlines and different classes of travel have different rules. Be prepared to pay for excess weight. When you check in, remove straps and hooks from garment bags that you are sending as checked baggage. These can get caught in baggage processing machinery, causing damage to the bag. The airline will put baggage destination tags on your luggage and give you the stubs to use as claim checks.

Make sure you get a stub for every bag. Don’t throw them away until after you get your bags back and you check the contents. Not only will you need them if a claim is necessary, but you may need to show them to security upon leaving the baggage-claim area. Each tag has a three-letter code and flight number that show the baggage sorters on which plane and to which airport your luggage is supposed to go. Double-check the tag before your bags go down the conveyor belt. (The airline will be glad to tell you the code for your destination when you make reservations or buy your tickets.)

Your bags may only be checked to one of your intermediate stops rather than your destination city if you must clear Customs short of your final destination, or if you are taking a connection involving two airlines that don’t have an interline agreement. Be sure all of the tags from previous trips are removed from your bag, since they may confuse busy baggage handlers.

When you get off of the plane, check and see what conveyor belt your luggage will be circling on. Ensure you pay attention and get your own bags. Many bags look alike. You may want to put some sort of identifying ribbon, tape, or band on your bags to make it easy to spot upon arrival.

If you have to go through immigration/customs, ensure that you do not open your suitcases until directed. The immigration officer usually asks a few preliminary questions and determines if you get the “green line” or if you need further checking. Cooperate with the security officer and it should only take a few minutes unless you have something illegal. Be honest on the customs declaration form. Telling lies can get you in some very big trouble.

Once you locate you bags and clear customs, it is time to start enjoying your vacation. I hope these Check In Flight Travel Tips have helped!

Traveling on a budget? Check out our 5 Tips for Families on a Budget!

All Inclusive Vacation Caribbean Resorts

January 29, 2016 crabbwc Hotels, Vacations

If you want the best all inclusive vacation Caribbean resorts, then you ought to look for more than just room with sun, sea, and sand. Hey, it’s not called all-inclusive for nothing you know.

You want your all-inclusive travel Caribbean resort to have, if not everything, then at least, something really close. A buzz on the beach by day, a dining room open to the night air, water sports and other activities to go crazy on, a lounge deck within earshot of the waves for a relaxing afternoon, and a comfortable to retreat to – all that is available if you choose your all-inclusive travel Caribbean resort well.

More and more people are pampering themselves at all inclusive vacation Caribbean resorts where everything they could ever want is right at their disposal. What’s more, lots of these all-inclusives – about 79% – of them are beachfront properties or sitting near lakes and other bodies of water where the views are spectacular. Whatever the price category, the best place to wind down is an all-inclusive travel Caribbean resort. You’re on vacation. You should let someone else take the strain, for once.

Below are our top choices when it comes to All Inclusive Vacation Caribbean Resorts:

Breezes Bahamas

Located on the eastern end of Cable Beach, Breezes Bahamas is the epitome of warm breezes wafting across an azure sea. One of the better all inclusive vacation Caribbean resorts, this resort was previously the venerable old Ambassador Beach Hotel. In 1995, the world-famous SuperClubs took over management and the resort underwent major renovations.

Breezes all inclusive vacation Caribbean resorts are truly all inclusive. At Breezes, almost everything you could ever want is included. Room accommodations, all meals, all snacks, unlimited wine or beer with lunch and dinner, as well as alcoholic drinks, mixed with premium brand liquors at each of the four bars, the list just goes on and on. Not only that, but this all inclusive vacation Caribbean resort also includes most of the water and land sports activities, as well as airport transfers, taxes, and gratuities – all in one upfront price.

Club Med Turkoise

Another of the island all inclusive vacation Caribbean resorts, Club Med Turkoise is located directly on the white sand beach of a desert island called Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos, Caribbean. Although the land is arid and flat, unlike what you may expect of a tropical island, Turks and Caicos do draw the card with its breathtaking beauty and the astounding view of the beach and sea surrounding it.

With miles of white sand and translucent turquoise water, Club Med Turkoise all inclusive vacation Caribbean resort is the ideal for sports lovers and scuba divers. There are a total of 298 rooms, all beautifully appointed with comfortable accommodations, 3 meals a day, including unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, most sports, and nightly entertainment.

Le Sport

“Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind.” That’s the line Le Sport at St. Lucia uses on their clients. And indeed, this all inclusive vacation Caribbean resort does just that. With its quirky outlook on how the all inclusive travel Caribbean resorts should be, Le Sport has been helping the weary business traveler relax, suing a combination of holiday treats and intense pleasure of personalized rejuvenation.

Senior Trip Ideas

January 22, 2016 crabbwc Seniors, Travel

Peter Greenberg has compiled a roundup of some of the more interesting options for senior trip ideas, which run the gamut from safaris to small-ship cruises.

ELDERTREKS

One of the most adventuresome senior trip ideas, ElderTreks has been offering senior-oriented trips for almost two decades. With both land and sea vacations, ElderTreks features some pretty exotic destinations, including Mongolia, Ethiopia, and Antarctica. Most of the offerings tend toward the strenuous, but the Activity Level rank gives an idea of just how active a particular tour is.

A Level 3 (most physical) voyage in Ethiopia, for example, could include climbing down the base of the Blue Nile Falls, a three-hour hike in Lalibela, and camping in the Omo Valley after some serious off-roading. ElderTreks are not for the faint of heart or the physically unfit, and can range from about a week to a month or more. If you’re adventurous, and looking to meet someone else who is, too, consider joining up with ElderTreks.

SINGLES ADVENTURE CRUISES

While the “Adventure” moniker may be a bit misleading considering this company’s emphasis on large-ship cruising. Still, for seniors aged 55+, it could be a good way to meet others. Senior singles in need of a buddy or wingman might like the “Travel Mates” program, which can help to start friendships and meet up with a roommate to avoid a singles supplement charge. Do be careful when exploring Singles Adventure Cruises options, though — seniors should look for cruises specifically targeted to them. Otherwise, you could end up on a cruise full of single, hard-partying twenty-somethings. Their garishly-designed website doesn’t help, but seniors should look for cruises targeted at the “55+.”

They also offer “Ad-Lib Cruises” for folks who don’t like to be over-scheduled with group activities. These cruises allow you to be on a ship with significant numbers of singles and participate in group activities when you desire, yet still give you the freedom to pursue your own schedule, making this on of the best single senior trip ideas.

GOLDEN TRAVEL GUIDES

Golden Travel Guides isn’t actually referring to the “golden years”; the company was started in 1997 by Rick Golden. But they do have plenty of options for senior travel, providing seniors with a search engine for exploring options on their own over the Internet. Alternately, they offer a toll-free number to allow you to speak with an actual “travel specialist” to help make your plans. Not all of their trips are singles-oriented; however, a significant percentage of their travelers on nearly every trip are, in fact, single.

ELDERHOSTEL

With more than 8,000 all-inclusive trips in all 50 states and more than 90 foreign countries, Elderhostel has a global reach. But a couple of things make Elderhostel a bit different from other senior-focused tour companies. First, as a non-profit, Elderhostel is dedicated not to making money, but to providing meaningful experiences that help and educate both travelers and their hosts. Second, Elderhostel maintains a strong commitment to community service with many of its tours.

For example, seniors learn about habitat restoration and biological research by helping scientists study endangered Giant Otters and Hyacinth Macaws in Brazil’s Pantanal. Finally, Elderhostel is committed to education as a goal for travel, with many of their trips having significant cultural components to show seniors a more meaningful side to the country than they might otherwise see. Elderhostel also offers inter-generational trips, for grandparents looking for service-oriented vacations for the whole family.

ALUMNI CLUBS

One final single senior trip ideas vacations…trips for college alumni. Many university alumni clubs will sponsor trips that can re-connect seniors to long-lost classmates and spark new relationships. The added bonus of these trips, aside from the fact that all the participants will have at least their college in common, is that it will often help the ol’ alma mater, too. Contact your former college for more information on joining an alumni club.

6 Top Winter Cruise Destinations

December 4, 2015 crabbwc Travel, Vacations

A warm, sunny cruise sounds so good in the middle of a cold, damp winter! Finding the Top Winter Cruise Destinations will help you discover a wonderful escape that can provide all kinds of great memories. You’ll have a chance to shop, soak up sunshine, explore historic places, and view spectacular natural landscapes. Here are some of the top winter cruise destinations.

6 Top Winter Cruise Destinations

1. Australia and New Zealand

It doesn’t get much more “south” than the sunny southern hemisphere, which is in the middle of summer during January. You can scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef, tour the Sidney Opera House, and visit the historic area known as “The Rocks.” In New Zealand, there are lovely national parks like Tongariro National Park and Fiordland National Park. Expect a cruise to this part of the world to last about two weeks.

2. South America

A South American cruise offers sightseeing in Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, and other destinations. You can see the Amazon River and the Galapagos Islands. When you choose a South American cruise, your choice is based on the sights you want to see, as there are many South American cruise routes.

3. Caribbean

On a Southern Caribbean cruise, you will get to see the islands that are dry and warm this time of year, such as Aruba and Barbados. This is a wonderful cruise for those interested in or fascinated by volcanoes. There are also dense rainforests on the islands of Grenada, Tobago, and St. Lucia.

Cruises to the Bahamas are included in Eastern Caribbean cruises, particularly those that set sail from Florida. The islands of St. John, the Bahamas, and Puerto Rico are usually visited on these cruises.

If you choose a Western Caribbean cruise, you can visit Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba, and Cozumel.

4. Dubai

For an exotic cruise with a Middle Eastern flavor, Dubai is an excellent choice. There is also very good shopping in Dubai, and the beaches are said to be very beautiful.

5. Hong Kong

This teeming, vibrant city is a good cruise destination for the winter. Its impressive harbor, Victoria Harbor, provides a striking view. You can engage in dolphin-watching, or watch a “Symphony of Lights” at Victoria Harbor.

6. Hawaii

Another volcano-intensive cruise, a trip to Hawaii in the winter months is a tradition for some. The temperature in Hawaii remains pretty much constant, and the beautiful beaches and spectacular views make this a popular cruise in winter. You get all the exotic experience of an out-of-the-country cruise, but without worrying about changing currency or other headaches.

As you can see, winter is a perfect time to take a cruise with many exotic top winter cruise destinations awaiting you.

How To Camp In The Winter – Tips and Tricks to Stay Cozy and Warm

November 27, 2015 crabbwc Camping

Camping is not just for spring, summer and fall. You need to know how to camp in the winter. Camping in the winter can be beautiful and fun. Bears are hibernating, there are no itchy plants or insects, and the landscape can be dramatic whether there is snow or not. Winter is cold, however, so you’ll need to make some special preparations to stay warm. Here are some tips for keeping cozy as you learn how to camp in the winter.

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First, here is a list of some of the most important camping gear you’ll need for a winter camping trip:

Wool or fleece hats, gloves, scarves, and thick socks are essential. Socks lined or coated with waterproof fabric are even better.
Sleeping pads to put beneath your sleeping bags, made from foam or other insulating material
Sleeping bags that will provide insulation to zero degrees
Waterproof, insulated boots
At least 2 tarps, one for the ground and one to make a shelter over your tent
Skewers or stakes, sometimes called snow flukes, specially made for use in the snow
Thermoses for hot drinks
Camping stove with fuel (gathering dry firewood can be impossible in wet, snowy weather)
Foods high in complex carbohydrates, fat, and protein – in that order

How To Camp In The Winter – Tips for the Trip

Don’t try to cover as much distance or pack in as many activities as you would during a warmer weather camping trip. It gets dark a lot earlier, so you will be making camp much earlier than in the summer. Also, getting the campsite set up will take longer due to the extra cold weather gear. Getting dressed in the morning will also take everyone a bit longer for the same reason.
There’s an old saying among winter campers – cotton kills. Cotton is wonderful fabric for summer camping, but it is a very poor insulator, especially when wet. Make sure that any cotton clothing is covered by wool and/or waterproof clothing.
Dress in layers that can be easily removed and put back on. If you begin to sweat, you will want to be able to remove a layer or two because excessive sweating in cold weather makes your body more susceptible to chilling (hypothermia).
Remember to eat foods rich in whole grains, healthy fats, and protein even when you don’t feel that hungry. This diet is vital for your body to keep warm.
Pack foods that have a low water content to prevent ruination from freezing and so they will be lighter to carry.

With a little preparation, you can know how to camp in the winter and you can enjoy an invigorating, beautiful winter camping trip.